Warriors lose out in Semi-Final

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors defeated in golden point extra time against Hull KR in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final.
• The game ended level after a try from Jai Field and three goals from Harry Smith.
• FT | Hull KR 11-10 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors Challenge Cup run came to an end after a golden point extra time defeat to Hull KR in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final.

Sunday saw Wigan compete in their 50th Challenge Cup Semi-Final as a closely contested first half saw the Warriors go in with the lead after a try from Jai Field and two goals from Harry Smith.

Wigan were reduced to 12-men at the start of the second half but extended their lead shortly afterwards before Hull KR levelled the game on the hour. Hull KR booked their spot in the final with a drop goal in golden point extra time.

Report

It was a blistering opening to the encounter as both sides went set-for-set but it was Hull KR who opened the scoring. A knock on at the play the ball for Wigan inside their own half gave KR a scrum from close range to shift the ball out to the right wing for Louis Senior to dive over in the corner. The effort wasn’t converted by Milnes and it was 4-0.

Wigan responded in the 23rd minute as Jai Field drew in the defence before cutting through a gap to dive in at the right corner. The touchline conversion from Harry Smith was perfect through the middle of the sticks to get Wigan in front for the first time in the game at 6-4.

Hull KR looked to be away on the half hour as Shaun Kenny-Dowall intercepted a pass on his own goal line to get past half way but Jai Field watched him all the way to bring the centre down, with KR unable to create anything from the rest of the set.

Hull KR threatened to retake the lead with repeat sets against the Wigan defensive line but the Warriors held firm to deny the Robins any further scores before being awarded a penalty for offside to take them upfield. A ball steal just short of half time saw Harry Smith shout for the tee, adding the extras to send Wigan in with an 8-4 lead at the interval.

Wigan were reduced to 12-men straight from half time as Joe Shorrocks was shown a red card after a tackle on Mikey Lewis.

Shortly afterwards Shaun Kenny-Dowall was sent to the sin bin after tackling Bevan French without the ball as the Warriors stand off chased a grubber kick to the in-goal. Harry Smith shouted for the kicking tee and the goal went in off the uprights to extend the Warriors’ lead.

Despite the one-man deficit the Warriors continued to work hard in defence to protect their lead but their defence was opened up just past the hour mark as a six again allowed KR into their half, Shaun Kenny-Dowall firing an offload out of a tackle on the left wing to see Ethan Ryan over. Schneider added the touchline conversion to level the scores with 15 minutes to go.

The Warriors attempted the drop goal with a set move with 5 minutes to go but the ball was charged down and Hull KR were back in possession, they couldn’t make the most of their set though as Wigan collected on the last to get back on the attack.

The game ended all square at 10-10 to see the game into golden point as Hull KR progressed to Wembley as Schneider added a drop goal in the 82nd minute.

Gallery:

Hull KR: Ethan Ryan, Louis Senior, Thomas Opacic, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Mikey Lewis, Rowan Milnes, Bradley Schneider, Rhys Kennedy, Jez Litten, George King, James Batchelor, Kane Linnet, Elliot Minchella.

Interchanges: Matt Purcell, Matt Storton, Jimmy Keinhorst, Sam Luckley.

18th Player: Yusuf Aydin.

Tries: Senior (10′), Ryan (63′)

Goals: Milnes 0/1, Schneider 1/1

Drop Goals: Schneider (82′)

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Kaide Ellis, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.

Interchanges: Kai Pearce-Paul, Joe Shorrocks, Patrick Mago, Harvie Hill (unused).

18th Player: Junior Nsemba.

Tries: Field (23′)

Goals: Smith 3/3.

Red Card: Shorrocks (41′)

Attendance: 10,926

Referee: Liam Moore