The opening game of round twenty-three of Super League, the last before the split into the Super Eights, saw a dead rubber game between two sides who were simply looking for form going into the middle eights competition.

Warrington Wolves were guaranteed ninth spot and four home games, while Widnes were likely to finish eleventh and couldn't manage any better.

The Wolves won the game in Widnes back in April by 19-10, and their home game in the cup by 34-20, but both sides wanted the confidence boost that a win would bring.

When Widnes knocked on from the kick-off the visitors were immediately on the back foot. Less than two minutes had elapsed when Matty Russell stepped inside the winger off a Kevin Brown cut out pass to drop over the line. Stefan Ratchford failed to convert from wide.

A brilliant solo try from Joe Mellor on sixteen saw him dancing through a mesmerised Warrington defence to exploit some poor defence and go over next to the sticks. Stefan Marsh kicked the conversion with ease to edge his side 6-4 ahead.

While both sides had scoring opportunities for the remainder of the half but neither side looked convincing in their attacking play and half time arrived with no change in the scoreline.

All of the half time talk was over whether Widnes would be able to build on their first half lead and take their first victory of the year over the Wolves but eleven minutes after the restart their dreams were shattered when Peta Hiku caught a Declan Patton Cross field kick above his head and dropped over the line. Ratchford added the goal for a 10-6 lead.

Seven minutes later and the lead was extended to 16-6 when a lightening fast Kevin Brown won the race to ground a Patton grubber under the sticks giving Ratchford a simple conversion.

The final scoring action of the half came on sixty-two when Matty Russell was on the end of a nice cross field passing move to go over for his second of the night and when Ratchford again slotted over the goal the Wolves second half domination saw them secure the 22-6 win.

This was a dull game played out by two tired and downhearted sides. Widnes just edged the first half but a woeful second half performance opened the door to Leigh to push them into the bottom spot. The Wolves will know that they are 'too good to be relegated' and they should close out a easy path back into Super League next season, for Widnes it looks much more of a challenge.

Wolves: Ratchford (3G), Russell (2T), Hiku (T), Atkins, Lineham, Patton, Brown (T), Cooper, Clarke, Sims, Jullien, Hughes, Philbin. Subs: Curry, King, Smith, Savelio.

Vikings: Thompson, Armstrong, Chamberlain, Runciman, Marsh (G), Mellor (T), Walker, Chapelhow J., Johnstone, Dudson, Whitley, Olbison, Cahill. Subs: Gerrard, Burke, Walker, Chapelhow T.

Referee: Robert Hicks.

Half-Time: 4-6.

Full-Time: 22-6.

Attendance: .