Wigan win the derby

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against St Helens at the DW Stadium on Friday night.
• French, Field, Farrell and Marshall were the scorers on the night.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 30-10 St Helens.

Wigan put in a five-try display to take the win on derby day, securing second in the Betfred Super League table and continuing their unbeaten home run.

Despite St Helens opening the scoring with a penalty goal in the opening five minutes, but an energetic response from Wigan saw French and Field cross for tries before Liam Farrell added a third effort before the half time break.

St Helens got their first try in the second half but an astounding effort from Liam Marshall extended Wigan’s lead, before a final flourish from French gave the Warriors a 30-10 derby day win and securing a second place finish in Super League.

Report

St Helens had the better of the opening exchanges as a dropped ball close to the Wigan goal line allowed the visitors possession deep in Wigan territory. Morgan Knowles was held up over the line before Saints went close again but a penalty for offside allowed Lomax to give Saints a two-point lead.

Wigan put up a huge fight in response as a big hit from Willie Isa was followed up by a good tackle from Marshall which saw Hurrell spill the ball. With Wigan on the attack the duo of Field and French combined as the full back fired a pass out to the wing for French to go over, the touchline conversion from Harry Smith was on target as Wigan gained the 6-2 lead.

Wigan were in again in the 22nd minute as a fantastic play saw Mike Cooper get the offload to Brad O’Neill who sent Harry Smith through a gap and with Jai Field in support the full back raced under the sticks. Harry Smith added the two to make it 12-2.

Konrad Hurrell thought he had got over in response just a few minutes later but fantastic last ditch defending by Liam Marshall saw the Warriors man get his leg underneath the ball to stop Hurrell from grounding the ball and it remained 12-2 with 15 minutes until the break.

With Wigan defending well to deny Saints any chance of their first try in the opening forty, Wigan extended their lead in the 34th minute as Liam Farrell bounced back from a tackle to race away and add another score under the uprights, Smith slotted the extras and Wigan had the 18-2 lead at the interval.

Saints had repeat sets at the Wigan defence in the early stages of the second half but the attack was soon halted as Sironen turned into Mike Cooper and a huge collision saw the ball escape and Wigan were back on the attack.

St Helens were close to their opening try in the 50th minute as Lomax had a go at the line, being stopped short he got an offload to Lussick who dived towards the line but a mass of Wigan bodies were in the way and Saints were denied once more by solid defence from the Warriors.

Wigan stopped an effort from Agantius Paasi but they did get over immediately after. A loose ball saw Joey Lussick go over for the visitors first try of the evening on the hour mark. The conversion attempt from Davies was wide and it was 18-6 going into the final 20 minutes.

An outstanding effort from Liam Marshall extended Wigan’s lead in the 68th minute as he pounced on a loose ball, raced 60m downfield keeping himself in the field of play before evading the tackle of Jonny Lomax to score in front of the south stand, Harry Smith made it four from four with the boot as the DW Stadium erupted, the score 24-6 with 10 to go.

Joe Batchelor cut the deficit in the 74th minute, but another missed conversion from Ben Davies left them three scores behind and a final flourish from Bevan French down the right wing, followed up with a fifth successive conversion from Harry Smith, Wigan took the 30-10 victory.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Bevan French, Kai Pearce-Paul, Willie Isa, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Harry Smith, Brad Singleton, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Morgan Smithies.

Interchange: Patrick Mago, Kaide Ellis, Mike Cooper, Joe Shorrocks.

Tries: French (10′, 80′), Field (22′), Farrell (34′), Marshall (68′)

Goals: Smith 5/5

St Helens: Jack Welsby, Josh Simm, Konrad Hurrell, Joe Batchelor, Jon Bennison, Ben Davies, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, James Bell, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

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

Tries: Lussick (58′), Batchelor (74′)

Goals: Lomax 1/1, Davies 0/2

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 19,210