Warriors seal Semi Final spot

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Wakefield Trinity to book a Semi Final spot.
• Jai Field crossed for a hat-trick with Ethan Havard, Zak Hardaker and Liam Farrell also on the scoresheet.
• FT | Wakefield Trinity 6-36 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan progress to the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Finals after a win over Wakefield on Sunday afternoon.

It was an end-to-end first half as Wakefield threatened persistently early on, but Wigan broke the deadlock through Jai Field. Trinity hit back through Murphy but Ethan Havard crashed over just before half time to get Wigan back in front.

Jai Field added his second early in the second half to extend the lead for the Warriors, before Zak Hardaker added to the lead with 15 minutes to go. Liam Farrell got a try in the 70th minute before Jai Field completed his hat-trick with a minute to go as Zak Hardaker made it 6 from 6 on conversions for a 30-6 victory and putting Wigan in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Finals.

Report

Matt Peet was boosted by the return of Thomas Leuluai from suspension, as Iain Thornley and Bevan French also started on opposite wings.

Wakefield had the most of the early opportunities as Lino kicked a 40/20 after 3 minutes and back-to-back sets forced Wigan into a couple of goal line drop outs. Murphy was closest for the hosts as he flew in at the corner but the video referee had a second look which proved that Zak Hardaker had put in an incredible hit to force his man into touch before the ball was grounded.

Immediately afterwards Wigan opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Liam Farrell broke to send Jai Field away for the first try of the game, converted by Zak Hardaker to give Wigan the 6-0 lead. Iain Thornley was inches from scoring Wigan’s second but having had his effort chalked off at one end, Lewis Murphy came to the rescue to force the error from Thornley just before the goal line.

Murphy did get his reward on the 20th minute though, Wakefield got deep into Wigan’s territory to send the ball out wide for the winger to add the acrobatics, the effort was checked again as Hardaker tried once more to stop the score but the try was awarded this time and a conversion from Max Jowitt saw the scores level at 6-6.

Mason Lino got a second 40/20 in the 25th minute as the home side continued to trouble the Warriors. Gaskell did touch the ball down for Wakefield but not before James Child had blown the whistle for a foul on John Bateman in the build up and it remained 6-6.

Wigan did get their noses in front just before the half time break, good work at the back saw Bevan French and Jai Field link up before Zak Hardaker broke upfield and the Warriors kept the ball alive in the set to see Ethan Havard eventually finish off the move, converted by Hardaker to give Wigan the 12-6 lead at half time.

Wigan started the second half with urgency as Jai Field added his skill to get Wigan upfield, a powering drive from Patrick Mago got Wigan closer to the line before he offloaded to Jai Field to grab his second of the afternoon, a third conversion from Zak Hardaker made it 18-6.

Wakefield continued to ask questions, forcing back-to-back goal line drop outs again, Jowitt was racing in on the right edge but strong defence by the Warriors saw the Trinity full back forced into touch and it remained 18-6 in Wigan’s favour with 20 minutes to go.

Wigan got themselves further ahead in the 63rd minute, Bevan French and Liam Farrell got the Warriors up the field before the ball shifted right for Bateman to send Hardaker away for the score, converting his own score to put the score at 24-6 with 15 minutes to play.

The Warriors all but confirmed their Semi Final place as a kick from Cade Cust causes problems at the back and Liam Farrell is the closest to pounce on the loose ball and ease over for the Warriors fifth score of the afternoon. Hardaker added another successful conversion to put Wigan to 30-6.

Jai Field scored his hat-trick try in the 79th minute, as Zak Hardaker made it 6 from 6 on conversions to complete a 36-6 win and see Wigan into the Semi Finals.

Gallery:

Wakefield Trinity: Max Jowitt, Liam Kay, Reece Lyne, Corey Hall, Lewis Murphy, Lee Gaskell, Mason Lino, Tinirau Arona, Liam Hood, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jay Pitts, Matty Ashurst, James Batchelor.

Interchanges: Jai Whitbread, Harry Bowes, Eddie Battye, Jordy Crowther.

Tries: Murphy (20′)

Goals: Jowitt 1/1

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Iain Thornley, Zak Hardaker, Jake Bibby, Bevan French, Cade Cust, Thomas Leuluai, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Oliver Partington, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Morgan Smithies.

Interchanges: Patrick Mago, Liam Byrne, Ethan Havard, Joe Shorrocks.

Tries: Field (13′, 42′, 79′), Havard (36′), Hardaker (63′), Farrell (70′)

Goals: Hardaker 6/6

Attendance: 3,756

Referee: James Child.