Academy take win over Wakefield

  • The Warriors Academy side eased to victory over Wakefield Trinity on Saturday afternoon.
  • Wigan scored eight tries on the day to make it a third consecutive win.
  • FT | Wigan Warriors Academy 44-4 Wakefield Trinity Academy.

The Warriors Academy eased to two points with an eight-try haul on Saturday afternoon in front of the Robin Park Arena crowd.

Report

Junior Nsemba went over for Wigan’s first after just five minutes before Ethan Fitzgerald collected on the overlap to add a second in the opening 10 minutes. Billy Myers, on kicking duties on the afternoon, helped himself to a try under the sticks on 13 minutes with a smart dart to fool the Wakefield defence and make it 16-0.

Wakefield’s first real attack came after 15 minutes but the Wigan defence did well to force them into touch on the right wing, just a few meters away from the Warriors try line.

Jacob Douglas extended the lead further in the 18th minute, diving over just to the right of the posts, the score converted by Myers for 22-0 to the Warriors after the first quarter of the game.

Wakefield attempted to grab one back as Courage Mkuhlani was held up over the Wigan goal line twice in quick succession but the Warriors defence was firm to deny Trinity their first score.

The Warriors responded to the attack by going on another one of their own, finished off with a score from Harvie Hill who linked up well with Junior Nsemba, converted by Myers for 28-0. Wakefield got one back through Walsh just short of half time but it was Wigan who went into the sheds in control with a 28-4 lead.

Wakefield offered the first real threat in the second half as they put in some good attacking work on the left edge but towards the end of the set Wigan again bundled the visitors into touch to get the ball back in hand.

In the 59th minute Wakefield’s Tom Delaney touched the ball down in the left corner but fantastic scramble defence saw Reagan Sumner force the Wakefield man into touch on his way through to deny him the score.

Harry Smithers broke the line in the 61st minute to put Wigan further ahead, before the Warriors scored again from the kick off, collecting the ball to send Beardworth racing under the uprights and converted by Myers for 40-4.

Smithers looked for his second of the afternoon just moments later but despite being over the whitewash, he was adjudged to have been held up. Harvey Wilson did extend the lead however as his effort, with a sixth conversion from Myers made it 44-4 to the Warriors at full time.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jacob Douglas, Reagan Sumner, Harry Smithers, Maddox Jeffrey, Ethan Fitzgerald, Tom Ratchford, Billy Myers, Harvie Hill, Lewis Pinder, Max Wood, Junior Nsemba, Finley Beardworth, Joe Baldwin.

Interchanges: Reece Bushell, Harvey Wilson, Ryan Brown, George Hough.

Tries: Nsemba (5’), Fitzgerald (9’), Myers (13’), Douglas (18’), Hill (30’), Smithers (61′), Beardsworth (63′), Wilson (70′)

Goals: Myers 6/8

Wakefield Trinity: Evan Stephenson, Tom Delaney, Joe Law, Ethan Wood, Mac Walsh, Joshua Phillips, Eli Saul, Ellis Roberts, Cameron Phillis, Charles Tetley, Lennie Jackson, Luke Mears, Tommy-Lee Corke.

Interchanges: Ryan Kirkwood, Courage Mkuhlani, Jake Camplin, Samuel Peel.

Tries: Walsh (34′)

Goals: Phillips 0/1

Saturday 09 April 2022