Wigan narrowly lose in Grand Final

  • Match report as St Helens narrowly beat Wigan in the 2020 Grand Final.
  • A second half try from Jake Bibby was not enough for Wigan to clinch the trophy.
  • Full time: Wigan Warriors 4-8 St Helens.

Wigan Warriors fell short of Grand Final glory as St Helens grabbed a late try at the KCOM Stadium.

A second half try from winger Jake Bibby put Wigan ahead, but a dramatic final minute saw Saints snatch victory.

It was the side in the Blue V that began the brighter of the two in the opening twenty minutes. However, despite a number of skirmishes on the Wigan line, the Cherry and White defence stood firm and the scoreboard remained unscathed.

The following ten minutes saw the opposite, with the Warriors having a number of half-chances at the St Helens line; the best coming from Zak Hardaker, who was held up in the end zone.

Just as it looked as if the half would end scoreless, Adrian Lam’s men conceded a penalty in their own half. Youngster Morgan Smithies, who had come on as an interchange, was judged to have caught Lachlan Coote off the ball. The Saints full back took the kick to put his side 0-2 up at the break.

The second half began much the same as the first, with St Helens having more joy going forward, but ultimately unable to make it count.

The tide began to turn on the hour mark and Wigan made their possession count by socring the first try of the game. A swift right-edge move saw Bevan French ship it wide to Bibby, who dived over in the corner in the 65th minute.

Another twist occurred in the tale of the Grand Final in the 72nd minute when Jackson Hastings was judged to have hit Theo Fages high inside the Wigan 30. Coote cleared the penalty kick to level the scores.

A penalty on halfway gave Hardaker a chance at the win, but the centre’s kick just missed the mark.

At the death, St Helens went up the other end and Tommy Makinson attempted a drop goal. The ball missed the mark but stayed in play and fortuitously bounced for Jack Welsby, who was able to touch the ball down for a try.

An scriptable and dramatic ending to a Grand Final, with Saints sneaking it in heartbreaking circumstances.

Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Jake Bibby, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Tommy Leuluai, Jackson Hastings, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Brad Singleton, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Oliver Partington.

Interchanges: Tony Clubb, Joe Greenwood, Sean O’Loughlin, Morgan Smithies.

Tries: Bibby (66’)

Conversions: Hardaker (0/1)

Penalties: Hardaker (0/1)

St Helens: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Jack Welsby, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, James Graham, Zeb Taia, James Bentley, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Dom Peyroux, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Matty Lees, Kyle Amor.

Tries: Welsby (80′)

Penalties: Coote (40’, 73’)

Referee: Chris Kendall

Video Referee: Ben Thaler

Friday 27 November 2020