Wigan defeated in Derby
- Match report as Wigan Warriors lose in the Derby on Friday night.
- St Helens score four tries to claim victory at the DW Stadium.
- FT | Wigan Warriors 2-26 St Helens.
Two tries in each half saw Wigan Warriors fall to defeat to St Helens in the Derby at the DW Stadium.
A thrilling Friday night Derby saw Wigan lose out to their rivals despite a fiery performance from both sides. Two tries in the first half set the tone for St Helens, with Harry Smith converting a penalty goal for Wigan. But two tries and a penalty goal for Saints in the second 40 was enough to see them take the two points.
Report
Sam Powell missed out through injury with Joe Shorrocks starting at hooker. Jai Field, who started on the bench last weekend, also missed out having picked up a minor knock. Oliver Partington returned to the starting line-up following his two-match suspension, with Amir Bourouh coming onto the bench. John Bateman also returned to action off the bench after a return from illness.
The opening five minutes of action was as electric as the atmosphere inside the DW Stadium, with big hits going in from the off. It was set-for-set between the two sides until the 8th minute – Regan Grace made a breakthrough the middle, which was stopped in attack by Zak Hardaker, but the resulting play saw Grace go in on the left edge for the opening score, converted by Lachlan Coote for 0-6.
Wigan twice tried the high searching ball in the plays following but the wing men were unable to collect and the Warriors’ chances went begging. James Bentley and Wigan’s Bateman were both sent to the sin-bin after 16 minutes, Bentley kicking out at Bateman to see the yellow, with Bateman also receiving a card for the afters.
Oliver Gildart made a good effort for the goal line shortly afterwards but the Saints were pulled back for offside. Smith added the penalty goal to take the score line to 2-6 and get the ball back with the Cherry and Whites.
The Warriors had a great effort down the left edge as Liam Marshall looked to get away, before offloading to Liam Farrell but strong Saints defence forced Wigan into touch and St Helens had the ball back in hand. It was St Helens who were next on the board, a kick on the last was collected by Oliver Partington but a one-on-one grapple with Lewis Dodd saw the Saints man come up with it and go over under the sticks to put St Helens further ahead. Coote with the extras to make it 2-12.
With 10 to go until the half time break, Bateman ran a great line to get the Warriors on the front foot, but the effort couldn’t be converted into points. Shortly afterwards, Joe Bullock was introduced to the action and immediately ran in some fantastic yards but again the kick on the last resulted to nothing.
Despite their best-efforts Wigan couldn’t find a way through in a tough arm wrestle for the final 10 minutes, to see the score line at 2-12 in St Helens’ favour at the break.
Into the second 40 minutes and Wigan started the brightest of the two sides. Marshall had an opportunity to break away, but the quick hands pass from Gildart was adjudged to have been a forward pass. Shortly after, St Helens tried the chip over the top, Coote collected but Jackson Hastings wrapped the full back up to deny the score, but St Helens were awarded a penalty for an incident in the build-up, the penalty goal converted by Dodd for 2-14.
A big defensive set followed for Wigan with some huge effort getting the crowd going, Marshall collected the kick on the last but was caught high by Bentley in the process and the penalty took Wigan up to halfway. Wigan came close with a grubber through by Zak Hardaker, but St Helens came up with the possession as tensions flared again in true Derby style to see Bateman sent to the sin-bin for a second time.
The visitors raced up the field with possession and it looked as if Mark Percival was over, but the Saints man dropped the ball over the line to see the ball back with Wigan. It was end-to-end for the following 10 minutes, with Saints going close through James Roby before a grubber through was watched out of play by Hardaker who was adjudged to have blocked out of the attacker and the visitors got a penalty which was missed by Coote to remain 2-14.
Immediately afterwards, Willie Isa was then sent to the sin-bin for an infringement, with Percival going over in the resulting set, latching onto Grace’s pass to go over. Coote missed the extras to see St Helens 2-18 ahead.
Wigan were penalised for a high shot inside their own half and again St Helens opted for the two-pointer, this time successful from Coote to make it 2-20 to the visitors with less than 10 minutes to play.
Alex Walmsley wrapped up the game just before the final hooter as another penalty saw Saints in good possession for the forward to go over, Coote was on target with the conversion to see St Helens to a 2-26 victory.
Wigan Warriors: Zak Hardaker, Jake Bibby, Willie Isa, Oliver Gildart, Liam Marshall, Harry Smith, Jackson Hastings, Ethan Havard, Joe Shorrocks, Oliver Partington, Kai Pearce-Paul, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.
Interchanges: John Bateman, Amir Bourouh, Joe Bullock, Liam Byrne.
Goals: Smith 1/1
Sin-bin: Bateman (16′), Bateman (49′), Isa (61′)
St Helens: Lachlan Coote, Kevin Naiqama, Jack Welsby, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joel Thompson, James Bentley, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Aaron Smith, Joe Batchelor.
Tries: Grace (8′), Dodd (21′), Percival (62’), Walmsley (79’)
Goals: Coote 4/6, Dodd 1/1
Sin-bin: Bentley (16′)
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 16,319
