Warriors go top of the table
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors go top of the Super League table with a win against Wakefield Trinity.
- Bevan French crossed for his 100th career try in the victory.
- FT | Wigan Warriors 22-6 Wakefield Trinity.
Wigan Warriors extended their winning run to six matches with a professional performance over Wakefield Trinity to go top of the Super League table.
Report
Wigan started brightly in front of their home support, and almost scored twice inside the first five minutes. First Miski was tackled just short after collecting Harry Smith’s high-kick and then Marshall’s grubber-kick bounced narrowly out of play evading two chasing Warriors.
The Cherry and Whites found the breakthrough after seven minutes when the play was worked swiftly out to the left, and despite a deflection, Marshall was able to pick up and squeeze over for his ninth try of the season. Smith added the conversion.
Wakefield created little throughout, but they asked Wigan a question when Liam Kay, who was a late change to Trinity’s starting line-up, dummied his way through a gap in the defensive line. Bevan French was well placed to halt the full back, and the visitors failed to create anything from the rest of the set.
A second try was added after 22 minutes when Warriors shipped the ball out to Miski who stepped inside before finishing fantastically in the corner. Smith was accurate with his touchline kick.
Trinity gifted Warriors a third try after 30 minutes when Lee Kershaw’s loose pass was collected by Harvard, who had the simple task of diving over. The prop was replaced by Harvie Hill, who came on to make his first Super League appearance at the DW Stadium.
Smith was successful with the kick once more, to surpass 400 points for Wigan. Wigan punished Wakefield’s errors throughout the first 40, and as the hooter sounded, the hosts departed the field to a standing ovation.
Wakefield, who were aiming to avoid a sixth scoreless defeat of the campaign, almost crossed when Kay dived towards the line off the back of a neat offload. Wigan defended excellently to keep the full back out, before Marshall claimed the kick to regain possession.
Warriors were temporarily reduced to 12 when Willie Isa was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on the hour. Wigan introduced Junior Nsemba for his first Super League outing on home soil, and the forward was involved immediately with a strong carry and clever offload, which excited the support.
The visitors capitalised on a Wigan handling error – and the extra man – to open the scoring for the second half. Trinity were patient through the tackles before Jay Pitts crashed over from close range, and Mason Lino added the extra two points with the aid of both posts.
The DW Stadium were back on their shortly after when French dived over to score his 100th career try with 10 minutes remaining. The ball was fizzed out wide to Miski who stepped inside and accelerated towards the line, before he offloaded to the supporting French to weave his way over.
Wigan almost added a fifth try in the closing stages when Marshall and French combined to break free down the wing, before the winger almost picked Toby King out with an inch-perfect crossfield kick. However, the ball bounced out despite the centre’s best attempt to acrobatically ground the ball.
The Warriors stood firm in the remaining minutes to deny Wakefield a second try of the match, as Matt Peet’s side head into the international break top of the Super League table.
Gallery:
Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Joe Shorrocks, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Sam Powell, Ethan Havard, Willie Isa, Kai Pearce-Paul, Morgan Smithies.
Interchange: Patrick Mago, Brad O’Neill, Harvie Hill, Junior Nsemba.
18th Player: Zach Eckersley. (Unused)
Tries: Marshall (7’), Miski (22’), Harvard (30’), French (70’).
Goals: Smith 3/4
Sin Bin: Willie Isa (51′)
Wakefield Trinity: Liam Kay, Lee Kershaw, Reece Lyne, Samisoni Langi, Jorge Taufua, Rowan Milnes, Mason Lino, Kevin Proctor, Harry Bowes, Jai Whitbread, Matty Ashurst, Sam Hewitt, Jay Pitts.
Interchange: Samuel Eseh, Eddie Battye, Josh Bowden, Renouf Atoni.
18th Player: Lee Gaskell
Tries: Pitts (62’)
Goals: Lino 1/1
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 12,240
