Warriors defeated in Derby

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors fall to defeat away at St Helens.
• Field, French and Miski scored in the loss.
• FT | St Helens 34-16 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors fell to Derby Day defeat at the Totally Wicked Stadium in Round 15 of the Betfred Super League.

It was an end-to-end encounter in the opening half as Wigan saw Jai Field and Bevan French cross the whitewash in front of their travelling support.

St Helens scored three second half tries to take the Derby win at the Totally Wicked Stadium, despite a late effort from Abbas Miski.

Report

A typically atmospheric Derby got off to a roaring start with good early exchanges but a dropped ball from Wigan after three minutes was pounced on by the hosts to see Joe Batchelor over for the opening score in the right hand corner, converted by Makinson for 6-0.

A few minutes later and Wigan were penalised for a high tackle on James Roby, in good field position Makinson shouted for the tee but sliced the penalty attempt wide of the posts as it remained 6-0.

Wigan struck back in the 12th minute as a sublime chip through from Harry Smith was chased by Jai Field to go under the sticks in front of the travelling Wigan support, Smith added the extras to level the scores at 6-6.

Wigan did well to hold the Saints out as they asked the questions of the Wigan defence but a penalty for offside on their own goal line allowed Saints to opt for the two-pointer again, however Makinson saw his effort ricochet back off the sticks. The ball landed back with Saints before receiving a scrum to see them over eventually though, as Tommy Makinson dived in at the right hand corner, converting his own effort for 12-6.

Wigan got one back in the 29th minute as Bevan French kicked through, with the ball bouncing awkwardly on the Saints goal line the Warriors man collected his own kick to touch down, though the conversion attempt was off target to make it 12-10 to the hosts.

St Helens grabbed a try late in the opening half through Jack Welsby under the sticks, which Makinson converted to see the score at 18-10 at the break.

It was the hosts who crossed first in the second half as Paasi was handed a pass right on the goal line to crash over, converted by Makinson to put Saints out to 24-10.

Welsby extended the lead in the 52nd minute as he peeled away from his defender to dive over close to the uprights, Makinson added a fifth conversion for 30-10, before the Saints winger added his second of the evening with an unsuccessful attempt to convert his own effort seeing the score at 34-10 with 15 minutes to go.

Abbas Miski crossed for the Warriors in the 79th minute but it was too late for Wigan who were handed defeat in the second Derby Day of the season.

Gallery:

St Helens: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchange: Sione Mata’utia, Joey Lussick, Agnatius Paasi, James Bell.

18th Player: Jon Bennison.

Tries: Batchelor (3′), Makinson (22′, 63′), Welsby (38′, 52′), Paasi (48′)

Goals: Makinson 5/8

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Iain Thornley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Kaide Ellis, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Joe Shorrocks, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.

Interchange: Brad Singleton, Patrick Mago, Harvie Hill, Cade Cust.

18th Player: Toby King.

Tries: Field (12′), French (29′), Miski (79′)

Goals: Smith 2/3

Referee: Chris Kendall

Attendance: 16,272