French double downs Wakefield

• Match report as Wigan Warriors beat Wakefield Trinity at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
• A double for Bevan French as well as scores from Oliver Gildart, Sam Powell and Jackson Hastings seal the victory.
• Full time: Wigan Warriors 28-16 Wakefield Trinity.

A Bevan French double helped Wigan Warriors to a 28-16 victory over Wakefield Trinity at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night.

Three tries in nine minutes from the Cherry and Whites during the second half put the result beyond Chris Chester’s side after going in at half time 12-all.

The win takes Adrian Lam’s men up to second in the Betfred Super League table with a win percentage of 75.

After a steady opening ten minutes for both sides, it was Wakefield who bagged the first points of the game. Jacob Miller found a chink in the armour of Wigan’s defence to touch down after the Warriors were penalised for an illegal steal inside their own ten metres.

With momentum on their side, Trinity soon scored their second in the 17th-minute. Tinirau Aruna latched onto a short ball to crash under the Wigan posts.

The Cherry and Whites made their first score of the evening in the 25th courtesy of Jackson Hastings. The half-back found a well-timed Liam Farrell diagonal run which broke the Wakefield line two metres out. Drawing the full-back, Farrell then returned the ball inside to the supporting Hastings, who touched down under the sticks.

With their tails up, it was the Warriors who got the next try through Bevan French. A well-worked passing move from right to left found its way to Joe Burgess. The left-sided winger returned the ball inside to the Wigan full-back to see the Aussie score his 11th of the season.

It took until the hour mark for the first try of the second half to arrive. Wigan hooker Sam Powell running from dummy half caught the Trinity defence napping on the last tackle to score under the posts.

Centre Oliver Gildart then grabbed Wigan’s fifth of the night, as he powered over from close range to score his third try in three consecutive games.

It took just two minutes for the Warriors to score again, with French grabbing his second. Tommy Leuluai shipped the ball to the right to find the on-rushing full-back who ran clear to score from 20 yards and seal the win for Wigan.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Jake Bibby, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Tommy Leuluai, Jackson Hastings, Ben Flower, Sam Powell, Ethan Havard, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Oliver Partington.

Interchanges: Mitch Clark, Joe Shorrocks, Harry Smith, Jack Wells.

Tries: Hastings (25’), French (29’, 68’), Powell (60’), Gildart (66’)

Conversions: Hardaker (4/5)

Wakefield Trinity: Alex Walker, Ben Jones-Bishop, Reece Lyne, Bill Tupou, Tom Johnstone, Tony Gigot, Jacob Miller, Tinirau Arona, Jordan Crowther, Craig Kopczak, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jay Pitts, Joe Westerman.

Interchanges: Kyle Wood, Matty Ashurst, Chris Green, Adam Tangata.

Tries: Miller (11’), Aruna (17’), Johnstone (75’)

Conversions: Gigot (2/3)

Referee: James Child

Video Referee: Marcus Griffiths