WARRINGTON Wolves will need to overturn St Helens’ 12-point lead in the second half if they are to break the Super League leaders’ 100 per cent start to the season.

Daryl Clark brought Wolves level after Joe Greenwood’s opening try, but St Helens soon retook the lead through Jon Wilkin and quickly extended it via Adam Swift’s score in the corner.

Wolves’ attempts to break the arm-wrestle first bore fruit six minutes when Stefan Ratchford span wide to Ryan Atkins inside his own 10 metre line.

The centre made good ground, entering the Saints half with Kevin Penny in support, but Wolves’ flying winger was unable to escape the attention of the hosts’ defence.

At the other end, Adam Swift looked like having a yard on Penny wide out on St Helens’ left, but the 27-year-old made a recovery tackle that sent his counterpart into touch.

Swift was nearly in again after 12 minutes, good hands from Jordan Turner taking Penny out of the game and full back Ratchford having to make the tackle 10 metres from his own line.

The St Helens defence was giving Wolves little room, and it took last week’s man of the match Ben Westwood cutting a fine line to open them up again.

His neat offload found the supporting Ratchford, who in turn handed on to Chris Bridge.

Bridge, not having the legs on Saints’ defence, flung a pass high behind him with Penny the target, but the Warrington-born winger attempted to palm it on first time with a move more at home in his basketball days and the hosts retrieved possession.

Then, with 18 minutes on the clock, Keiron Cunningham’s side broke the deadlock. A fine passing move put Greenwood in from close range and Travis Burns converted.

Wolves’ reply came seven minutes later. Mose Masoe was penalised for a shoulder charge close to his own line, allowing Westwood a run at the line.

He was grounded two metres out, but reigning Man of Steel Clark gathered quickly at the play-the-ball to dive over. Ratchford added the extras.

Seven minutes later and Wolves found themselves behind again, with Saints enjoying a touch of fortune to take the lead for a second time.

Turner turned on the pace before attempting a grubber, which rebounded off Penny’s back and the Saints centre volleyed on into the path of Wilkin, who picked up comfortably and crossed unopposed. Burns converted.

Wilkin would turn creator moments later, sending a long pass beyond Penny for Swift to gather and dart over the line wide out. Burns maintained his 100m per cent record with boot.

It was a far cry from the impenetrable defensive effort Wolves had shown against Leeds for large parts a round earlier, while Tony Smith’s side were also not showing the same clinical finishing.

Ben Currie was the latest to throw away a pass that ended up in touch.