Warriors beaten at Barrow

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors lose against Barrow Raiders in Pre-Season.
• Abbas Miski scored a brace, with Tom Forber also on the scoresheet in the game.
• FT | Barrow Raiders 26-14 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors fell to defeat in game two of pre-season as the Raiders peeled away in the second half to take the win.

The Warriors had a mixture of first team experience alongside some Academy and Reserves talent for the trip to Barrow as Reserves Head Coach, John Winder, took charge of the game. Logan Astley, who was pivotal in Wigan’s opening pre-season game led the team as Captain on the afternoon.

Report

It was an even contest in the opening stages, with both teams going through the motions along with some handling errors which owed to a stalemate up until the half hour.

Barrow had come closest with a break down the left edge but Jacob Douglas put his man into touch to keep the scores to nil. Abbas Miski opened the scoring in the 31st minute though, Wigan putting a good move left to see Zach Eckersley send Abbas Miski over in the left corner, with the score unconverted it was 4-0 to Wigan.

Joe Shorrocks put his body on the line to deny a certain score from Barrow a few minutes later, with the loose forward needing a once over from the medical staff afterwards. The Raiders did get their reward however as the half time hooter sounded, with Rio Corkill finding his way over the line. Shaw was unable to convert as the sides went into the sheds at 4-4.

Barrow came out with fire in their bellies as they went close from the outset, Johnston putting a grubber kick through to tease the Wigan defence who did well to diffuse the attack. Just two minutes later, the Raiders did succeed in breaking the line as a penalty allowed them deep into Wigan territory before shipping the play right to see Broadbent flying in at the corner. The touchline conversion was good as Barrow took the 10-4 lead.

Barrow went close again shortly afterwards but it was Wigan who were next on the scoresheet, Tom Forber selling a fantastic dummy to dart over from close range and get one back for Wigan. Zach Eckersley converted the score to level the tally at 10-10.

The hosts were battling to get their noses back in front and managed to do so through Jake Carter as he crashed under the posts, Shaw converting once more to make it 16-10 with 15 minutes remaining.

Goal kicker Shaw was next to add his name to the list of try scorers as he went in on the left edge. He found himself in some space and despite a stumble on his way to the goal line, he managed to evade the Wigan defence to put the ball down. Unable to add the extras to his own score, it was 20-10 in Barrow’s favour with less than 15 minutes remaining.

Wigan were not done there, as they responded moments later to cut the deficit. It was Abbas Miski again who crossed in the 71st minute with another good link-up with his Centre Zach Eckerlsey to ease in on the left edge. The conversion was missed, leaving a 6-point gap with a few minutes to go.

Barrow confirmed the victory with a final effort on the stroke of full time, Luke Cresswell adding an acrobatic finish to score on the right flank. Shaw added a third conversion of the afternoon to seal the 26-14 victory for Barrow.

Gallery:

Barrow Raiders: Luke Cresswell, Luke Broadbent, Greg Worthington, Rio Corkill, Ryan Shaw, Jarrod Sammut, Ryan Johnston, Sam Brooks, Josh Wood, Ellis Gillam, Danny Langtree, Jarrad Stack, Jack Wells.

Interchange: Nathan Mossop, Jake Carter, Ben Evans, Greg Burke, Anton Iaria, Charlie Emslie, Tom Hopkins, Connor Saunders, Hanley Dawson, Ellis Archer.

Tries: Corkill (40′), Broadbent (46′), Carter (61′), Shaw (66′), Cresswell (80′)

Goals: Shaw 3/5

Wigan Warriors: Reagan Sumner, Jacob Douglas, Alex Sutton, Zach Eckersley, Abbas Miski, Adam Jones, Logan Astley, Patrick Mago, Brad O’Neill, Kaide Ellis, Junior Nsemba, Finley Beardsworth, Joe Shorrocks.

Interchange: Tom Forber, Harvie Hill, Ellis Hobson, Kieran Tyrer, Harvey Wilson, Ramon Silva.

Tries: Miski (31′, 71′), Forber (52′)

Goals: Eckersley 1/3

Attendance: 2,306