Warriors defeat Giants

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League.
• Liam Farrell bagged a brace, with other efforts from Bibby and Bateman.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 22-12 Huddersfield Giants.

A first half double from Liam Farrell, with additional efforts from Jake Bibby and John Bateman were enough to see the Warriors to a third successive win in the Betfred Super League.

Wigan made good headway in the first forty minutes as Liam Farrell crossed for a double in a ten minute spell, as Jake Bibby got Wigan’s third to give the Cherry & Whites a 16-6 lead at the break.

Huddersfield reduced the deficit in the second half with a Lolohea effort but John Bateman got the Warriors further in front in the 55th minute in what was to be the last score of the game as Wigan secured a 22-12 victory.

Report

Matt Peet named and unchanged 17-player team to face Huddersfield Giants on Thursday evening.

The Warriors were forced to see Cade Cust down the tunnel after just a minute for a head injury assessment, as both teams went set for set, finding their feet in the opening 5 minutes.

The Warriors broke the deadlock after just 7 minutes, Leuluai got the ball to Pearce-Paul who drew in his defender and got an offload back to Leuluai who sent Farrell racing away for the score. Zak Hardaker added the extras for 6-0.

It wasn’t long before Huddersfield got the equaliser, working their way well into Wigan territory before finding themselves a gap for Chris McQueen to go over, Will Pryce added the extras to level the scores at 6-6.

Liam Farrell added a second shortly afterwards, Cade Cust returning to the field after a clear HIA and immediately involved, sending Farrell over the whitewash. The Warriors were in the mood as a testing kick to the corner just two minutes later saw McGillvary knock on just short of his own goal line to allow Wigan a scrum 10m out. Jake Bibby received the ball from the base of the scrum to muscle his way over and extend Wigan’s lead to 16-6 after a successful conversion from Hardaker.

Huddersfield threatened to reduce the deficit with half time looming as a high shot allowed them a full set of six from just 20m out but a fantastic defence effort from the Warriors kept the Giants out despite their best efforts and the Warriors went into the sheds with the 16-6 advantage.

The first five minutes of the second half shared similarities to the first half as both teams looked for a spark in attack but it was the visitors who found theirs as Lolohea latched onto a late offload on the right edge in the 47th minute to go in near to the uprights, converted by Pryce to reduce the score to 16-12.

The Warriors found their stride shortly after, this time Tommy Leuluai drawing in the defender on half way to send Sam Powell on the run, supported by John Bateman for his first try of the season. Hardaker was on target with the extras and the Warriors had the 22-12 lead.

Kai Pearce-Paul was agonisingly close to going over as the hour mark struck, weaving his way back inside from the right wing and diving over the line but a mass of Huddersfield bodies just got in the way to deny him the score.

The crowd were on their feet as it looked Liam Farrell has completed his hat-trick and sealed the game with just over 5 minutes on the clock but the referee adjudged the ball to have come free before being grounded as Farrell was left to rue the opportunity for his third.

A try apiece was the tale of the second half as the Warriors made it three from three with the 22-12 victory.

Match Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Zak Hardaker, Jake Bibby, Kai Pearce-Paul, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Thomas Leuluai, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Kaide Ellis, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Willie Isa.

Interchanges: Patrick Mago, Morgan Smithies, Oliver Partington, Liam Byrne.

Tries: Farrell (7′, 17′), Bibby (21′), Bateman (55′)

Goals: Hardaker 3/4

Huddersfield Giants: Will Pryce, Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Ricky Leutele, Innes Senior, Tuimoala Lolohea, Oliver Russell, Chris Hill, Adam O’Brien, Owen Trout, Josh Jones, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates.

Interchanges: Matty English, Joe Greenwood, Sebastin Ikahihifo, Ashton Golding.

Tries: McQueen (13′), Lolohea (47′)

Goals: Pryce 2/2

Referee: Tom Grant

Attendance: 10,291