Wigan fall to Good Friday defeat

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors fall to defeat away at St Helens.
• Jai Field scored the Warriors only try of the afternoon.
• FT | St Helens 22-4 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan fell to Good Friday defeat despite a spirited performance on the road.

Jai Field opened the scoring as he latched onto an inside ball from Tommy Leuluai to race away and put Wigan ahead, but Saints hit back with two tries to send them in with the lead at the break.

Two second half efforts from the hosts saw them extend their lead and take the 22-4 win on derby day.

Report

Abbas Miski came in on the wing in the absence of Iain Thornley, as Willie Isa returned to the starting line-up following a short term injury.

There was an early chance from Wigan as Cade Cust send Jake Bibby down the left wing, he passes the ball inside to Liam Farrell but the pass is low and Farrell spills the ball. Immediately afterwards Tommy Makinson made a break away but a great ankle tap from Bevan French brought his man down just over half way.

Saints thought they had opened the scoring in the 7th minute as Hurrell crashed over, but a second look from the video referee showed he didn’t have control of the ball and no try was the decision as the scores remained 0-0 in an explosive opener to the derby.

Batchelor raced away in the 16th minute to score under the sticks, the referee called for the video referee and the ball was knocked on before Batchelor added the legs, keeping the scores at nil and Wigan had the head and feed back on the half way line.

Jai Field opened the scoring on 20 minutes, latching onto an inside ball from Tommy Leuluai to weave around the Saints defence and race to score in the right corner, the touchline conversion from Field was wide but Wigan had the 4-0.

Saints levelled the scores shortly afterwards as repeat sets close to the Wigan goal line allowed the ball to be shifted out right for Tommy Makinson to dive in at the corner, the winger couldn’t had the extras to his own effort and it was 4-4.

The hosts got themselves in front for the first time in the match in the 33rd minute as Makinson broke on the right to send Jonny Lomax under the sticks, converted for 10-4. Saints added another two points before the break as Wigan were penalised just a few meters out as Makinson added the two to give St Helens a 12-4 lead going in at the break.

St Helens knocked on through Paasi from the kick off and in the resulting play Sam Powell looked to have broken the line to go over but the referee pulled it back for a knock on. Up the other end the Warriors put a saints man into touch but spilled the ball whilst back on the attack to give possession back to the hosts. Batchelor backed up Percival’s run to go over, with Makinson missing the conversion for 16-4.

As St Helens asked more questions of the Wigan defence they were awarded a penalty from close range, the hosts opted for the penalty goal which was added successfully by Makinson to take the score to 18-4.

Sam Powell was sent to the sin bin as the hour mark approached for a dangerous tackle and Saints were on the attack once more from half way but the Warriors backed up their defence to see Bevan French put in a tackle for the turnover and get Wigan back with the ball in hand.

Mark Percival went over in the 64th minute as a loose ball on the Warriors goal line was picked up, Percival juggled the ball but got the ball down to extend St Helens’ lead further. Makinson couldn’t add the extras but St Helens had the 22-4 advantage going into the last 15 minutes.

Abbas Miski was agonisingly close to getting one back for Wigan as Field shipped the ball out to the right wing, but a tackle on his way to the try line saw his foot hit the whitewash before getting the ball down to deny Wigan the second score and see St Helens to the 22-4 win.

Gallery:

St Helens: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, James Bell, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield

Tries: Makinson (24′), Lomax (33′), Batchelor (48′), Percival (64′)

Goals: Makinson 3/6

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, John Bateman, Jake Bibby, Bevan French, Cade Cust, Thomas Leuluai, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, Willie Isa, Morgan Smithies.

Interchanges: Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Ethan Havard, Joe Shorrocks.

Tries: Field (20′)

Goals: Field 0/1

Sin Bin: Powell (56′)

Referee: Liam Moore

Attendance: 17,980