Paul slays David in battle of Hulmes

Rugby League

Warrington 36 Leeds 12

The younger brother came ou ton top in a match that could have been sub-titled "When two Hulmes collide" as Warrington exposed the frailties that have undermined Leeds all season.

Playing against each oher for the first time in their careers, the pair had confirmed what they probably already knew - that Paul has joined a side with real possibilities and that David will have all the work that even a player of his legendary industriousness could crave.

Warrington had already had one try disallowed, after a full two minutes of video scrutiny, before they took the lead with a classic of its type. Moving the ball sweetly from the scrum base, Iestyn Harris and Toa Kohe- Love combined to send John Roper in for his first try of the match. Midway through the first half Roper struck again, with Warrington's new hooker, Kris Watson, making the running.

Leeds desperately needed some encouragement, which came when Tony Kemp sent Neil Harmon through a big gap in the otherwise solid Warrington defence, but that good work was soon undone by a pounding run from Mark Hilton. The Warrington prop stormed down-field from a Willie Swann pass and although he was stopped short of the try-line the ball ran loose for Paul Cullen to pick up and score.

Apart from poor handling, indiscipline undermined Leeds, with a string of unnecessary penalties conceded and, in the 57th minute, their second row foward, Adrian Morley, sent off for a high tackle on Hilton. Harris' kick, his fourth, put Warrington even more comfortably in command.

With gaps now appearing routinely, Roper was able to set up a try for Ian Knott. Phil Hassan got one back for Leeds but the admirable Hilton and Salesi Finau underlined Warringotn's superiority.

Warrington: Harris, Forster, Rudd, Roper, Henare, Kohe-Love, Swann, Jones, Watson, Hilton, P Hulme, Cullen, Sculthorpe. Substitutes used: Finau, Barrow, Bennett, Knott.

Leeds: Maher, Golden, Clarke, Hall, Hassan, Kemp, Holroyd, Harmon, D Hulme, McDermott, Mann, Morley, Mercer. Substitutes used: Tait, Newton, Faimalo, Forshaw.

Referee: S Cummings (Widnes).