Academy topple Giants

  • Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy take the win against Huddersfield Giants.
  • Kilner-Douglas went over for a double as Wigan crossed for six tries on the day.
  • FT | Wigan Warriors Academy 32-10 Huddersfield Giants Academy.

Wigan Warriors Academy returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 32-10 victory over Huddersfield Giants Academy at Robin Park Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Warriors made the perfect start as they opened the scoring inside two minutes, Jacob Kilner-Douglas finishing off a rapid passing play by crossing in the corner for a 4-0 lead.

Wigan extended the lead to 10-0 with just seven minutes on the clock as Reagan Sumner broke through the Giants line to race down the field and under the posts for a superb try which Tom Ratchford converted.

Huddersfield had chances to cut the gap either side of the half hour mark with two penalties awarded inside the Wigan 20-metre line resulting in strong defence with just being held up over the line allowed.

Wigan were denied a third score of the half on 37 minutes as clever offloading from Junior Nsemba saw Reece Stanton tackled just inches from the line.

After the restart, Huddersfield finally got off the mark on 50 minutes as Jayden Billy raced down the wing shrugging off several chasing Wigan defenders before touching down for a try to make it 10-4.

Wigan resumed control with a clever combination from Reece Bushell and Nsemba which saw Kilner-Douglas collect and cross for his second try of the afternoon and the conversion attempt narrowly missing, the lead was 14-4.

The Giants hit back as Alexander Nash blitzed down the field and under the posts for a try which Ciaran Raistrick converted to cut the gap to 14-10 on the hour mark.

Wigan responded with a try from Harvey Wilson on 69 minutes as he dived over from close range, Ratchford converting with ease for 20-10.

Any hopes of a late comeback from the Giants were dashed in style as Wigan crossed twice in the final two minutes, Ratchford crossing in the corner and converting from a tight angle before Stanton touched down and Ratchford kicked to wrap up a first win in five with the 32-10 success.

Wigan Warriors: Niall Povall, Reagan Sumner, Harry Smithers, Junior Nsemba Jacob Kilner-Douglas, Tom Ratchford, Reece Bushell, Max Wood, Lewis Pinder, Harvey Wilson, Reece Stanton, Finley Beardsworth, Ryan Brown.

Interchange: Joe Baldwin, Harvie Hill, Ellis Hobson, Troy Richmond.

Tries: Kilner-Douglas (2′, 55′), Sumner (7′), Wilson (69′), Ratchford (78′), Stanton (80′)

Goals: Ratchford 4/6

Huddersfield Giants: Ethane Wainwright, Jacob Grierson, Darius Carter, Spencer Peel. Jayden Billy, Ciaran Raistrick, Lewis Taylor, Joshua Rhodes, Tom Greensmith, Kameron Siddique, Alexander Nash, Jack Billington, Louis Gibson.

Interchanges: Tom Markham, Declan Knapping, Kyle Baines, Tommy Mackay-Gunn.

Tries: Billy (50′), Nash (62′)

Goals: Raistrick 1/2

By Simon Driscoll.

Monday 01 August 2022