Academy defeated at Hull FC
- Wigan Warriors Academy were beaten on the road to Hull FC on Saturday afternoon.
- Wigan did cross for four tries in the defeat.
- FT | Hull FC 38-18 Wigan Warriors.
Both Wigan and Hull FC scored two tries each in the first half, but a strong showing by the hosts in the second half was enough to take the game away from the Warriors and hand the Academy side defeat.
Report
Hull had a dream start on home turf as a break from Balmforth was helped over the whitewash by the supporting Armstrong as the Black and Whites score in the opening minute. Hull doubled their lead 10 minutes later as a kick through from Sully Medforth to the left corner was claimed in the air by Lewis Martin, Medforth converted for 12-0.
Despite their best efforts, it took Wigan until the half hour mark to put a stamp on the game as Zach Eckersley’s pass sent Harry Smithers bursting through the defence and touching down, though Eckersley couldn’t convert the effort.
Wigan struck again just before the break as a high bomb wasn’t dealt with and Tom Ratchford capitalised, racing away to score the Warriors’ second try of the game. Eckersley converted this time but were left to rue the earlier conversion miss as they trailed 12-10 at the interval.
Hull were quick out of the blocks once again after the restart, as a fired out ball found Callum Shaw to see the winger in at the right edge, before Balmforth added a fourth for Hull immediately after, both efforts couldn’t be converted and the score was 20-10 in Hull’s favour.
Wigan were next to go over as they hit back to reduce the deficit, this time Reagan Sumner weaved his way through the defensive line to get the score, with the extras missed it was 20-14 as the game hit the hour.
An end-to-end contest saw both sides cross again. Mason Opie-Palmer finished off an 80-meter break from Callum Shaw to confirm Hull’s fifth of the afternoon, before Wigan hit back yet again through a Harvey Wilson effort to break through the defensive line and score, seeing the score at 26-18 to the hosts.
Zach Jebson put the game out of site for Wigan as he ran a good line in the 72nd minute to score, the effort was converted. It was Callum Shaw who sealed the win for Hull FC, adding his second of the afternoon to confirm a 38-18 victory.
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Callum Shaw, Keiran Masike, Mason Opie-Palmer, Lewis Martin, Sully Medforth, Mackenzie Harman, Jude Thompson, Denive Balmforth, Sam Dulson, Lennon Bursell, Zach Jebson, Kye Armstrong.
Interchange: Junior Mafi, Alfie Oldridge, Sam Richards, Charlie Stipetic.
Tries: Armstrong (1′), Martin (11′), Shaw (43′, 76′), Balmforth (46′), Opie-Palmer (62′), Jebson (72′)
Goals: Medforth 5/7
Wigan Warriors: Zach Eckersley, Reagan Sumner, Ethan Fitzgerald, Harry Smithers, Jacob Douglas, Tom Ratchford, Billy Myers, Harvie Hill, Reece Bushell, Ryan Brown, Junior Nsemba, Finley Beardsworth, Harvey Wilson.
Interchange: Lewis Pinder, Max Wood, Ellis Hobson, Joe Baldwin.
Tries: Smithers (32′), Ratchford (37′), Sumner (57′), Wilson (68′)
Goals: Eckersley 1/3, Myers 0/1
