Broncos edge out Warrington

French international Sylvain Houles pounced for two second-half tries as London Broncos kept alive their Super League play-off hopes with a nailbiting 31-28 victory at Warrington.  

Winger Houles grabbed two tries in eight minutes to help the Broncos to only their second win in eight matches and narrow the gap on fifth-placed Leeds to four points.

Warrington had conceded 122 points in their previous two matches.

And their defensive frailties were all too apparent as they let slip an 18-6 lead, which came courtesy of veteran Gary Mercer's 100th career try.

The former Bradford, Leeds and Halifax second rower supported a superb jinking run by stand-off Lee Briers to touch down 20 minutes into an end-to-end encounter at Wilderspool.

Mercer's century-maker had followed earlier tries from wingers Rob Smyth and Lee Penny as Warrington belied their recent struggles to produce some delightful attacking rugby.

The accurate Briers kicked all three conversions as Warrington established a 12-point lead but their tackling did not match their attacking flair and London seized their opportunities.

They took full advantage of a blunder by Warrington full-back Alan Hunte, who was unable to take a towering kick from his opposite number Paul Sykes, to score an equalising try through stand-off Jim Dymock.

And hooker Glen Air pounced for two tries in five minutes, supporting a break by loan player Sykes to touch down a spectacular 90-metre move and then making the most of a fortunate rebound to claim his second.

Winger Brett Warton kicked all three goals to tie the scores and leave Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde thoroughly exasperated.

As the game continued to seesaw, both teams missed tryscoring chances with London scrum-half Dennis Moran dropping a pass from Justin Dooley with the line open and centre Toa Kohe-Love being dragged into touch just short of the line.

London went in front for the first time on 51 minutes when Moran re-gathered his own chipped kick to send Houles over for their fourth try, with Warton kicking his fourth goal.

But it was Warrington's turn to draw level just three minutes later when danger man Kohe-Love superbly sucked in the defence to get Smyth over for his second try.

The game looked to be over when a long pass from Moran got Houles over for his second try and Sykes kicked the difficult conversion before adding a 30-metre drop goal.

But a 68th-minute try from Warrington substitute Steve McCurrie gave the home side renewed hope and London were forced to defend desperately in the closing stages to secure their precious victory.