Warrington beat York at Halliwell Jones to tighten top-two race

Warrington Wolves defeated York Knights at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on 13 August 2026 as they pressed their bid for a top-two finish.

Teenage half-back Ewan Irwin, 18, scored one try and kicked five goals as Warrington moved ahead of Wakefield Trinity on points difference into third place and sit four points behind leaders Leeds Rhinos; Josh Thewlis, Sam Stone, Danny Walker and Arron Lindop also crossed for the home side in the first of three games Warrington will play in 10 days.

York opened the scoring inside two minutes after Cody Hunter created a chance when Sam Wood touched back his kick for Jon Bennison to feed Paul McShane for the try.

Warrington responded when Josh Thewlis pounced on a loose pass, beat three tacklers and scored a converted solo try to put Wire in front before York regained the lead on 19 minutes when Hunter’s grubber found Bennison for a converted touchdown.

Stone, returning after three months out injured, grounded a George Williams kick and Irwin produced a dummy before charging over to put Warrington 16-10 ahead in the 33rd minute; Irwin then kicked a penalty before half-time to extend the margin.

In the second half Warrington ran a penalty after 51 minutes with hooker Danny Walker spinning round to score and Irwin adding the two points; Irwin was later denied a second try when the video referee ruled there had been a knock-on by James Bentley. Cody Hunter was ruled offside to stop a York breakaway and, 60 seconds later in the 66th minute, Williams kicked to Albert Hopoate who knocked the ball inside for Arron Lindop to crash over. The Betfred player of the match Irwin kicked his second penalty in the final minute.

Warrington: Thewlis; Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams (c); Irwin, Thomas, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie. Interchanges: Holroyd, Sipley, Crowther, Wood; Hayes.

York: Mata'afa; Bennison, Wood, Williams, Nofoaluma; Hunter, McShane; Martin, Inman, Va'a, Dee (c), Field, Hingano. Interchanges: Balmforth, Vaughan, Thompson, Foster; Buchanan.

Warrington are targeting home advantage in the play-offs and have won 10 of their past 11 matches at the Halliwell Jones; their next fixture is Tuesday’s showdown with fifth-placed Hull KR.