Scholarship win at Warrington
- Wigan Warriors Scholarship came from behind to make a second half comeback and take a 32-22 win.
- George O’Loughlin scored a hat-trick with Tyrer, Hodkinson and Kerr also scoring.
- FT | Warrington Wolves 22-32 Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Warriors Scholarship launched a second half comeback to remain unbeaten in the Scholars league in 2022.
George O’Loughlin scored a hat-trick of tries in a game which saw Wigan come from behind in the second half to take the two points in an enthralling game against Warrington Wolves at Victoria Park.
Report
An early penalty for the Warriors allowed them into the Warrington half, they ran the ball hard but the joy came on the last play as a cross-field kick was collected by O’Loughlin to ease over in the corner, the conversion attempt from out wide was short but Wigan led 4-0.
In the 15th minute Wigan started a full set of six from just 30m away from the Warrington goal line. Warrington were holding strong down the middle channel but a shift left proved it’s worth once more as the ball went through the hands to find O’Loughlin on the wing again to go over for his second of the evening in the left corner to make it 8-0.
Warrington responded shortly afterwards, making good yards into Wigan territory before Lewis Barratt darted for the line from dummy half to get the Wolves on the board, the effort converted to make it 8-6 to Wigan.
The hosts took the lead for the first time on 22 minutes as interchange Joseph Hickey crashed over, Warrington made the break down the left edge before a kick through was collected by Taylor-Wray, he couldn’t find the try line but Hickey in support on the second attempt went over, converted to make it 12-8.
Warrington furthered their lead on 34 minutes as Ben Godwin came in on a diagonal run to sneak between the Wigan defence and crash over, with a third successful conversion making it 18-8 to the Wolves. Wigan had the final say of the half though as a spectacular fired out pass to the right wing allowed Kieran Tyrer to cross, converted to make it 18-14 at half time.
Wigan got their noses back in front on 45 minutes as O’Loughlin registered his hat-trick as he went in again at the left corner, with Farrimond adding the extras to put Wigan to 20-18.
Warrington responded within 10 minutes, a grubber kick through saw Wigan survive as they forced a goal line drop out, the drop out however was short and had the Wolves back on the attack from close range and despite their best efforts, they couldn’t keep Mather from darting over from the play-the-ball.
With Warrington’s advantage only two-points after the failed conversion, Wigan swung the game back in their favour as a nice inside step from full-back Noah Hodkinson saw him glide through a gap to score, Farrimond added another conversion to make it 26-22 with the final 10 minutes approaching.
The Warriors sealed the win in the 74th minute as good work from Kalum Rathbone ran them close to the goal line before shipping the ball right to find Taylor Kerr who got the ball down, a final conversion from Jack Farrimond meant a 32-22 victory for the Wigan Warriors scholars.
Warrington Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray, Ben Godwin, Daniel Hackney, Arron Lindop, Francis Sergent, Patrick Irwin, Devan Sharp, Thomas McKinney, Lewis Barratt, Miller Dalton, Isaac Reid, Alfie Longstaff, Alfie Mather.
Interchange: Isaac Hirsch, Noah Broadbent, Saba Asatiani, Oliver Evans, Joseph Hickey, Ryan Edwards.
Tries: Barratt (19′), Hickey (22′), Godwin (34′), Mather (55′)
Goals: Hickey 3/4
Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Joseph Tyrer, Taylor Kerr, Nathan Lowe, George O’Loughlin, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Kian McDermott, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Lukas Mason, Joshua Cartwright, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Kalum Rathbone.
Interchange: Lewis George, Matthew Thornton, Jack Lightbown, Keegan Boyd.
Tries: O’Loughlin (6′, 15′, 45′), Tyrer (38′), Hodkinson (66′), Kerr (74′)
Goals: Farrimond 4/6
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