Warriors defeat Red Devils

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against Salford Red Devils in Betfred Super League.
• A double from Farrell helped Wigan to victory with other scores from Shorrocks, Miski and Marshall.
• FT | Salford Red Devils 6-26 Wigan Warriors.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors run in five tries to beat Salford Red Devils in Betfred Super League.

Morgan Smithies returned to the starting line-up at loose forward to make his 100th appearance for Wigan. The game also saw Head Coach Matt Peet complete his 50th game in charge of the Club.

A tough first half in wet conditions saw the Warriors cross through as Joe Shorrocks pounced on a kick through, as Salford responded through Hellewell but a late first half effort from Liam Farrell put Wigan back ahead at 8-6.

Miski opened the second half scoring in the right corner before Liam Farrell grabbed a second try on the hour mark. Liam Marshall confirmed the victory with a 90m sprint down the wing before cutting inside to score Wigan’s fifth under the posts to make it 26-6.

Report

An even start saw the scores remain to nil as both sides went set for set in the opening ten minutes. The Warriors were asking the questions though as a kick to the corner from Smith was spilled by Salford to allow another set close to the line, they tried again but this time Watkins saw the ball dead for a goal line drop out.

Wigan did break the deadlock on 22 minutes as a carved out kick to the corner from Smith was pounced on by Joe Shorrocks for the first of the afternoon, Smith’s conversion ricocheted off the uprights and it was 4-0.

Salford responded just after the half hour as a penalty allowed them within 20m of the Wigan goal line and a cut out ball from Sneyd saw Hellewell through a gap to get the Red Devils over for the first time. Sneyd added the extras to put Salford ahead at 6-4.

Wigan got back in the lead though in the 38th minute as a stunning break through the line from Jai Field saw Liam Farrell in support to race the rest of the way and slide over for the try in front of the travelling support. Smith’s conversion inched wide of the posts but Wigan went into the break with the 8-6 lead.

It was Wigan who struck first in the second half as a knock-on from Salford allowed Wigan a scrum 20m out. The Warriors played it right and Smith held his pass perfectly to send Miski through, and despite Salford’s best attempts they couldn’t stop the winger crashing over. The effort was converted from the touchline by Smith to make it 14-6.

The Warriors extended their lead in the 58th minute as great play down the left wing saw Jake Wardle get a pass away to Farrell to burst through and add dot down the ball. Smith again added a brilliant conversion attempt from the touchline to make it 20-6 going into the final 20 minutes.

Liam Marshall confirmed the victory as he collected a loose ball and raced 90m before cutting inside to touch down under the posts, Harry Smith added a third successive conversion to make it 26-6.

Gallery:

Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Deon Cross, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Chris Atkin, Marc Sneyd, King Vuniyayawa, Amir Bourouh, Adam Sidlow, Kallum Watkins, Sam Stone, Oliver Partington.

Interchange: Matt Costello, Tyler Dupree, Ben Hellewell, Danny Addy.

18th Player: Jack Ormondroyd.

Tries: Hellewell (31′)

Goals: Sneyd 1/1

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, Morgan Smithies.

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

18th Player: Junior Nsemba.

Tries: Shorrocks (22′), Farrell (38′, 58′), Miski (46′), Marshall (72′)

Goals: Smith 3/5

Attendance: 7,854

Referee: Aaron Moore.