Academy lose out to Warrington

• Wigan Warriors Academy fell to at the hands of Warrington Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
• It was goal kicks that were the difference as both sides crossed for four tries apiece.
• FT | Wigan Warriors Academy 20-23 Warrington Wolves Academy.

Wigan Warriors Academy fell to defeat against Warrington Wolves Academy, as a second half comeback from the visitors saw them snatch the two points.

Tom Ratchford and Reagan Sumner were both on the scoreboard as Jacob Douglas added a brace of tries.

Report

The Warriors started well as they absorbed a full early set from Warrington, before the kick on the last was collected well by Eckersley. Before long an inside ball saw Harvie Hill break the line, giving the ball to the supporting Ratchford to ease under the sticks, Myers slotted the extras for a 6-0 lead.

Warrington were applying the pressure and came close in the 10th minute as a grubber through teased the defence but the ball overran to give Wigan a 20m restart. After getting a head and feed 10m out from the Wigan line, Warrington did draw level as Hayes and Hughes combined to send Noah Booth over on the left wing, converted for 6-6.

A spilled Warrington ball in the 23rd minute gave Wigan a scrum from close range. Directly off the back the scrum down they shifted the ball right for Eckersley to send Sumner in on the wing and get Wigan back in front. The touchline conversion from Myers was good to make it 12-6.

Wigan extended their lead on the half hour mark as Zach Eckersley turned provider again, timing his pass perfectly to send Jacob Douglas firing through the defensive line to race away and score. The conversion attempt from out wide was off target this time but Wigan had the 16-6 lead.

It looked as though Eckersley and Douglas had linked up again on the stroke of half time but last ditch defending saw Warrington put Douglas’ foot into touch before he could get the ball down. Douglas was in touch for a final opportunity before the break as it remained 16-6 going into the interval.

Warrington were asking all the questions at the start of the second half and their persistence paid off as Booth crossed for his second in the 45th minute, latching onto a good offload. Hayes added a second conversion of the afternoon to cut the deficit to 16-12 in Wigan’s favour.

Warrington drew level 55 minutes as James Hartill managed to edge his way over on the right wing despite the best efforts of Douglas to try and force him into touch. The conversion from Hayes was on target to put the visitors in the lead for the first time on the afternoon.

10 minutes later Noah Booth completed his hat-trick for the Wolves, crashing over after some good build up play. The score wasn’t converted but Warrington had the 6-point cushion going into the final 10 minutes of the match.

With 5 minutes to go until full time, the Eckersley to Douglas link-up play combined again to see Wigan in at the left hand corner but with the chance to draw the scores level, Myers’ touchline conversion attempt was agonisingly wide of the uprights and it was 22-20 to Warrington with a few minutes go.

Warrington confirmed the victory in the final minute as the ball came back to full back Lewis Hughes to squeeze over a drop goal for 23-20.

Wigan Warriors: Zach Eckersley, Reagan Sumner, Maddox Jeffrey, Harry Smithers, Jacob Douglas, Tom Ratchford, Billy Myers, Harvie Hill, Lewis Pinder, Ellis Hobson, Junior Nsemba, Finley Beardsworth, Joe Baldwin.

Interchanges: Reece Bushell, Max Wood, Harvey Wilson, Ryan Brown.

Tries: Ratchford (4′), Sumner (23′), Douglas (30′, 75′)

Goals: Myers 2/4

Warrington Wolves: Lewis Hughes, James Hartill, Jack Darbyshire, Jake Thewlis, Noah Booth, Ben Tyrer, Leon Hayes, Lucas Green, Aiden Doolan, Bobby Shingler, Adam Holroyd, Nola Tupaea, Noah High.

Interchanges: Joe Bajer, Zac Bardsley-Rowe, Ben Hartill, Sam Marshall.

Tries: Booth (13′, 45′, 65′), J.Hartill (55′)

Goals: Hayes 3/4

Drop Goals: Hughes (79′)