Warriors Academy defeat Warrington
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy extended their winning run to six matches with victory over Warrington Wolves Academy at the DW Stadium.
- The Warriors scored four tries to climb above Warrington into second in the table.
- FT | Wigan Warriors Academy 30-12 Warrington Wolves Academy.
Wigan Warriors Academy extended their winning run to six matches after a 30-12 victory over Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium.
Report
The Warriors came close early on through Ryan Brown, who dropped the ball in the tackle as he dived over to the left of the sticks. It turned out to be the home side’s best chance of the opening exchanges, after they had also come close on the wings.
On the 10 minute mark it was Warrington’s turn to come just shy of the first score after a short pass saw Thomas McKinney touch down under the posts. However, after discussion amongst the officials, a scrum was awarded to the Warriors.
Momentum switched again in favour of the Warriors who finally opened the scoring after 17 minutes when a gap emerged for Lukas Mason to dart through to finish. Jack Farrimond added the extras to make it 6-0.
Warrington levelled less than five minutes later when Jake Thewlis made his chance count after missing an earlier opportunity. Noah Booth kicked the resulting conversion to tie the contest after 21 minutes.
Wigan went ahead three minutes later when after some touchline defence denied Booth on the try-line, Taylor Kerr wrestled his way through to regain Wigan’s lead. Farrimond made no mistake once more from the tee to increase the advantage to 12-6.
The Warriors were finding their groove, and after Thomas Ratchford was narrowly held up, a third try arrived shortly after when Maddox Jeffery finished exceptionally in the corner. Farrimond was successful with his kick to give the Warriors an 18-6 lead at the break.
Wigan were the quickest out the blocks, and after Thomas Ratchford’s break put them in a great position, Trent Kelly-Duffy touched down in the opening minute after an extravagant pass from Nathan Lowe. Farrimond kicked another exceptional touchline conversion to extend the lead for John Duffy’s side.
The game seemingly settled down for the next 10 minutes, with neither side overly threatening their opponents. That was until Cai Taylor-Wray stepped his way into the corner to pull one back for Warrington, as Booth converted from out-wide to make it 24-12 after 55 minutes.
Five minutes later Farrimond showed some clever footwork of his own, weaving his way through a couple of defenders before barrelling over to score. The scrum half converted once again, to take his personal total up to 14 points in a Man of the Match performance.
Amongst a couple of close chances for both sides, the Cherry and Whites closed out the game to claim their sixth win on the bounce to leapfrog Warrington into second place in the Academy League table.
Gallery:
Wigan Warriors Academy: Noah Hodkinson, Maddox Jeffery, Joshua Cartwright, Nathan Lowe, George O’Loughlin, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Ryan Brown, Tom Ratchford, Kian McDermott, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Lukas Mason, Taylor Kerr.
Interchange: Reece Rowcroft, Harrison Dean, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Kalum Rathbone.
18th Player: Harry Higham.
Tries: Mason (17’), Kerr (24’), Ratchford (30’), T. Kelly-Duffy (41′), Farrimond (63′).
Goals: Farrimond (5/5)
Warrington Wolves Academy: Cai Taylor-Wray, Dylon Braddish, Zack Gardner, Jake Thewlis, Francis Sergent, Pat Irwin, Noah Booth, Stephen Antrobus, Ben Hartill, Thomas McKinney, Ewan Smith, Nolan Tupaea, Sam Marshall.
Interchange: Lewis Barratt, Ben Godwin, Isaac Reid, Jack Edge.
18th Player: Adam Whalley.
Tries: Thewlis (21’), Taylor-Wray (53′).
Goals: Booth (2/2)
Referee: Will Gilder.
