Wigan win against Salford

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors come from behind to win against Salford Red Devils.
• Bevan French scored a double, with Toby King also getting on the scoresheet.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 20-16 Salford Red Devils.

Wigan Warriors came from behind to beat Salford Red Devils 20-16 at the DW Stadium on Friday night.

The occasion marked milestones for both Liam Farrell and Liam Marshall as Farrell made his 350th career appearance, with Marshall also making his 150th career appearance.

A converted try and a penalty goal for each side was the story of the first half, with Bevan French’s effort a highlight of the forty with a fantastic dummy to fool the Salford defence and go in under the uprights as the sides went in evenly matched at 8-8 at the break.

A second from Sio in the second half before a Sneyd penalty goal took Salford to 16-8 before another French effort, converted by Smith took Wigan within two points. Toby King rounded off the win with a score in the final 10 minutes to confirm the 20-16 win for the Warriors.

Report

Wigan got the first points on the board a few minutes in as a penalty close to the Salford goal line allowed Harry Smith to get a penalty goal and two-points for the Warriors.

Both sides battled well but Salford responded with a try 15 minutes in as a teasing kick towards the corner was collected by Ken Sio to go over, Sneyd added the extras from out wide and it was 6-2 to the visitors.

Wigan got back ahead in the 28th minute as a stray pass was collected on the wing by Bevan French who cut inside before throwing a sensational dummy to carve open a gap and race under the uprights, with Smith adding the extras for 8-6.

Salford levelled the proceedings just short of half time as repeat sets at the Wigan goal line allowed them a penalty, which Sneyd knocked over from the tee to send the teams in level at the break.

Salford got themselves back in front in the 47th minute as a fired out pass to Ken Sio on the right wing was collected with ease to go over, converted by Sneyd for 14-8.

The Red Devils then added two more points as Wigan were penalised for a late hit on the kicker, Sneyd added his fourth kick of the night to make it 16-8 to the visitors.

Wigan had a great opportunity for a response in the 62nd minute as a pass was intercepted by Toby King, but the Centre could only find the half way line before being stopped, the resulting play saw Wigan get to the Salford goal line but a kick through on the last went dead for a 20m restart.

Wigan got back within two as Bevan French showed another fine flurry with a dart through the defensive line, the touchline conversion from Harry Smith was on target and the scores were at 16-14 in Salford’s favour going into the final 10 minutes.

The Warriors responded immediately as another powering set upfield saw Wigan deep in Salford territory, teasing the line Jai Field drew in a defender before getting a perfect pass to the right wing for Toby King to get Wigan ahead, Smith nailed the conversion and Wigan were 20-16 to the good and saw out the win at the DW Stadium.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Bevan French, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Harry Smith, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Kai Pearce-Paul, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.

Interchange: Mike Cooper, Kaide Ellis, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill.

18th Player: Willie Isa.

Tries: French (28′, 68′), King (73′)

Goals: Smith 4/4

Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Deon Cross, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Tyler Dupree, Amir Bourouh, Adam Sidlow, Kallum Watkins, Sam Stone, Danny Addy.

Interchange: Shane Wright, Jack Ormondroyd, King Vuniyayawa, Chris Atkin.

18th Player: Matt Costello.

Tries: Sio (15′, 47′)

Goals: Sneyd 4/4

Referee: Chris Kendall

Attendance: 11, 492