Warriors progress to Challenge Cup Semis
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium.
- Wigan scored a try either side of half time to seal the victory.
- FT | Wigan Warriors 14-12 Warrington Wolves.
Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Warrington Wolves to progress to the Semi Final of the Challenge Cup.
Report
An end to end start had the makings of a typical Challenge Cup tie between the Warriors and Wolves, Wigan were however reduced to 12-men after 6 minutes. The Warriors did well to force Warrington behind for a goal line drop out before an off the ball incident between Kaide Ellis and Stefan Ratchford saw the Warriors forward shown a red card.
Wigan were first on the scoreboard though as Toby King opened the scoring. The Warriors pounced on a loose play the ball 20m away from the Warrington goal line to get back in possession before another loose ball found it’s way to Toby King who stretched over to put the ball down. A second opinion was needed by video referee Ben Thaler who gave the try, with Harry Smith converting for 6-0.
Harry Smith extended Wigan’s lead in the 22nd as Warrington were penalised for offside close to their own goal line. The Warriors scrum half shouted for the tee before slotting the ball between the sticks to make it 8-0.
Jake Wardle was forced off the field for a head injury assessment just short of the half hour after colliding with Joe Bullock, the Warriors centre was replaced by Harvie Hill.
Warrington were asking the questions as they searched for an opening score, but Wigan backed up well in defence as they continued to hold a clean sheet until the half time.
Daryl Clark thought he had got Warrington a lifeline as he had a dive at the line but a collection of Wigan bodies kept him from crossing, as the video referee chalked the effort off as a no try. With a full set in the bank though, Joe Bullock got over for Warrington in the next set. The effort was converted by Ratchford to reduce the score to 8-6 in Wigan’s favour with just less than half an hour to play.
The Warriors responded immediately though as fantastic work up the field allowed Wigan deep into Warrington territory. A cut out pass to the wing then found Abbas Miski who took to the air to fly in at the right corner. Harry Smith converted from the touchline to get Wigan back with an 8-point advantage.
Warrington looked for a response and again they thought they had one as Matt Dufty shimmied his way towards the line, but a great tackle saw the Warrington man brought down before Dufty stretched out an arm to ground the ball. The effort was chalked off for double movement as Wigan got back on the attack at 14-6 with 10-minutes to go.
Warrington got their second of the game in the 73rd minute as a crossfield kick left Wigan open on the right edge for Thewlis to go over, Ratchford added the extras from the tee to make it 14-12 with 6 minutes to go.
Gallery:
Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Joe Shorrocks, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.
Interchange: Cade Cust, Brad Singleton, Morgan Smithies, Harvie Hill.
18th Man: Junior Nsemba.
Tries: King (11′), Miski (58′)
Goals: Smith 3/3
Red Card: Ellis (6′)
Warrington Wolves: Matt Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton, Peter Mata’utia, George Williams, Gil Dudson, Danny Walker, Paul Vaughan, Ben Currie, James Harrison, Sam Kasiano.
Interchange: Daryl Clark, Joe Philbin, Joe Bullock, Lucas Green.
18th Man: Greg Minikin.
Tries: Bullock (53′), Thewlis (73′)
Goals: Ratchford 2/2
Referee: Liam Moore.
Attendance: 9,302
