They also beat Warrington to win that trophy in a dramatic late comeback, but the Wolves’ season has fallen apart since then, and only seven of the team that featured that day were on show at Craven Park.
Head coach Sam Burgess was forced to field a young team due to injury and suspension, and he pulled several players from the squad due to face Leeds Rhinos in the Reserves Grand Final at the weekend to bolster his squad.
That hardly gave confidence to the travelling support, or to watching Wigan Warriors fans, who knew a Rovers slip-up would give them an outside chance of overhauling the leaders’ superior points difference against Leeds on Friday night.
Warrington shocked everyone with a great start, as winger Josh Thewlis caught Marc Sneyd’s high bomb and scored, with Robins’ youngster Booth failing to compete for the ball.
It did not seem to matter as May accelerated through a gap to score, and then 20-year-old Booth made it seven tries in six appearances since returning from his loan at Hunslet with a double before the interval.
That comfortable half-time lead was reduced as 17-year-old stand-off Ewan Irwin, making his first start for Warrington, produced a delicate grubber kick for Sam Stone to touch down.
Then Holroyd crashed through the line to level the score and, improbably, Josh Thewlis scored his second from Matt Dufty’s superb flick pass.
The home fans, who had seen Wakefield Trinity ruin the title party last week, feared a repeat, but Mourgue turned the game by running in a try from deep in his own half, and Rhyse Martin’s conversion edged them back ahead.
The palpable tension was relieved as May scooted through to score his second try and Martin added the extras to start the celebrations.
