Wigan remain unbeaten at home

  • Match Report as Wigan finish the season strong with a win against a young Catalans Dragons side.
  • Eight tries from the Warriors set up momentum for the Play-Off Semi Final.
  • FT – Wigan Warriors 48-4 Catalans Dragons

Wigan Warriors continued their 100% record at the DW Stadium in 2022 by beating Catalans Dragons on Friday night.

The Warriors are the only side in the Betfred Super League to win all games at home throughout the regular season as they overcame an inexperienced French side 48-4.

An eight-try performance saw Wigan gain momentum ahead of the home Play-Off Semi Final against the Highest ranked Eliminator winner on Friday 16th September.

Bevan French and Liam Marshall both picked up two tries each, while Harry Smith, Kaide Ellis, Ethan Havard and Jake Bibby all picked up a try each in a dominant performance against the Dragons.

Josh Drinkwater was the only shining light for Catalans when he scored his team’s only try in the 45th minute.

Report

The Warriors were back to full strength after giving debuts to seven youngsters in the defeat to Hull KR on Bank Holiday Monday.

The first real chance of the game came after three minutes when Cade Cust’s looping ball over found Liam Marshall and he looked to be in before Tanguy Zenon closed him down and forced him into a forward pass intended for Jai Field.

Wigan started stronger as the ball spread across the right-hand side and found Bevan French, who put in a kick for Kai Pearce-Paul which resulted in a goal line drop out.

From that goal line drop, the Warriors opened the scoring with Brad O’Neill giving the ball to Harry Smith who handed it to John Bateman. The second rower forced the ball out back to Smith to go over for the four points. Smith also added the two. 6-0.

The second try of the game started with Cust splitting the Catalans defence with a hard pass to Ethan Havard, who spotted Kaide Ellis running with him and gave the prop an easy try. Smith converted. 12-0.

It didn’t stop there in the first half as Wigan got the ball out to the left-hand side and Field assisted Marshall to score in the corner. Smith added the two. 18-0.

In the final minute of the half, Marshall picked up his second try of the game as Field ran across the pitch to stretch the Catalans defence and the winger was there to ease over. Smith added the two and that was the end of the first half. 24-0.

It was Catalans who opened the scoring in the second half as there was some confusion amongst the Wigan line, which forced French to run backwards and lose the ball. Josh Drinkwater welcomed that and scored from the error. Cesar Rouge failed to convert. 24-4.

Wigan’s first try of the second half was made by the forwards but finished off by the two men of the season, Field and French. Patrick Mago and Mike Cooper ran the ball in hard to get the field position for Field to put a nice little kick in to put French over for his 30th Super League try of the season. Smith added the extras. 30-4.

The tries kept coming as Ethan Havard picked up a loose ball less than five metres away from the line and went in under the sticks. Smith converted. 36-4.

Breaks from O’Neill and Havard gave Wigan the confidence to force a six-again as Jake Bibby scored a try a hooker would have been proud of, as he picked it up from the play the ball and dove straight at the line with success. Smith added the two. 42-4.

The final try of the game came from French, who made it 31 tries for the season – 11 minutes from time. O’Neill played a great pass to Smith, who placed an accurate cut-out ball for French to go over. Smith added the two. 48-4.

Wigan will be back at the DW Stadium in two weeks’ time for the Betfred Super League Play-Off Semi Final. Get your tickets now by clicking HERE!

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

Interchange: Thomas Leuluai, Patrick Mago, Ethan Havard, Mike Cooper.

Tries: Smith (7’), Ellis (31’), Marshall (35’, 40’), French (52’, 69’), Havard (55’), Bibby (62’).

Goals: Smith 8/8

Catalans Dragons: Romain Franco, Mike Parenti, Arthur Romano, Maxine Jobe, Tanguy Zenon, Cesar Rouge, Josh Drinkwater, Bastien Scimone, Ugo Tison, Tiaki Chan, Corentin Le Cam, Leo Laurent, Mathieu Cozza.

Interchange: Hugo Salbio, Lucas Ribas, Leo Llong, Loan Castano.

Tries: Drinkwater (45’)

Goals: Rouge 0/1

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 13,275

Friday 02 September 2022