WARRINGTON Wolves made their numerical advantage count to build a first-half lead at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Ben Currie scored twice in the first as Wolves capitalised on first Cameron Phelps and then Manase Manuokafoa finding themselves in the sin bin.

Widnes showed some early nerves when failing to deal with a Gareth O’Brien bomb, but Paddy Flynn was eventually able to gather and relieve some of the pressure.

It came after new boy Ashton Sims had got his first taste of the ball in primrose and blue, crashing between two tacklers and making good yards two minutes in.

Moments later in was another dropped ball in the Widnes defence and another tackle-breaker by Sims after a dancing Gene Ormsby run.

The visitors kept Wolves at bay and started to settle in to the fixture, but Kevin Brown, not named in the original squad, put a little too much on his grubber and Matty Russell saw out the danger.

With nine minutes played Russell spotted a gap and broke from his own half, finding Gary Wheeler in support and the centre in turn passed on to Kevin Penny.

Cameron Phelps slowed the play the ball down and was shown an early yellow card, which Wolves capitalised on immediately as Gareth O’Brien fed Currie at close range and he crashed over.

O’Brien added the extras.

Wheeler, who had shown good support play in the build up to Wolves’ opener, was nearly presented another chance but was unable to gather when intercepting Vikings’ new man Chris Clarkson’s lofted pass.

Denis Betts will no doubt be calling his side in for catching practice before their next friendly outing at St Helens, as the Wolves high ball continued to cause them problems.

This time is was Patrick Ah Van who spilled a diagonal Richie Myler kick that spiralled in the wind before the winger fumbled into Anthony England’s path.

Widnes, back to a full complement after serving the 10 minutes without Phelps, hung on as England was repelled by their scrambling defence.

Wolves were guilty of some juggling of their own as O’Brien skidded on the surface and Russell was unable to hang on.

It handed Vikings their first real chance to break, but as Phelps committed the final Wolves defender his pass was too far in front of Ah Van and went dead, when the winger would have had a free run at the line.

With 15 minutes of the half remaining things began to hot up, as another new arrival in Betts’ squad, Manase Manuokafoa felt aggrieved by an England tackle.

Moments later and the new arrival, who had started as a substitute, saw his first appearance in black and white interrupted as a late hit on O’Brien resulted in him being the second Vikings player heading to the sin bin.

With Wolves again looking to make their numerical advantage count it was Rhys Evans who opened his legs to find a gap, before Jack Owens read the Welshman’s side step.

Tony Smith’s side quickly had the ball back in hand, though, and it was whipped wide to the hosts’ left where Currie added his second from close range. O’Brien converted.

At the other end, with 37 minutes played, Joe Mellor was the architect as Vikings attempted to get a foothold before the break, moving the ball along the line before Paddy Flynn fumbled.

Kevin Penny attempted a spectacular dive to touch down in the opposite corner with a minute remaining of the half, but was adjudged to have gone into touch.