Reserves victorious over Hull FC

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Reserves beat Hull FC Reserves at Robin Park Arena.
• Maddox Jeffery scored in either half as the Warriors crossed five times to record an eleventh straight win.
• FT | Wigan Warriors Reserves 26-24 Hull FC Reserves.

Wigan Warriors Reserves scored five tries to defeat Hull FC Reserves 26-24 at Robin Park Arena.

Maddox Jeffery scored in either half alongside Zach Eckersley, Ethan Fitzgerald and Kavan Rothwell to keep the Warriors at the top of the table.

Report

After an evenly contested start to the match, the Warriors opened the scoring after eight minutes when Jeffery touched down after catching Logan Astley’s accurate kick. The lead remained 4-0 after Eckersley’s kick rebounded off the post.

Eckersley increased the Warriors’ advantage three minutes later after he burst through the line before fainting back inside to dive over beneath the sticks. The centre added the extras from the tee to widen the Cherry and Whites’ lead to 10-0.

Hull FC applied pressure twice to the Warriors defence before the mid-point of the half, as shortly after a forward pass halted a dangerous break down the left wing, a big hit from Iain Thornley forced Roman Dawson into touch metres out.

The visitors crashed over through Jeylan Hodgson to reduce the points difference after 23 minutes, however, the Warriors extended their lead on the half hour when Fitzgerald acrobatically touched down in the corner to put Wigan 14-6 ahead.

Hull FC reduced the points difference once more when Jude Ferreira went over in the corner at the start of the second half, however, the Cherry and Whites responded immediately as Rothwell crashed over beneath the sticks. Eckersley was accurate from the tee to kick the Warriors 20-12 in front.

Rothwell then defended excellently to end Dawson’s dangerous break on half way, before a battling run from Jeffery resulted in the winger grounding his second of the match after 63 minutes. Eckersely converted fantastically from the touchline to increase the Warriors’ lead to 26-12.

The visitors fought back in the final quarter of the match as they scored twice to reduce the points difference to two with three minutes remaining. First Zach Jebson broke the line before diving over between the sticks, and after the Warriors were penalised 20m out, Kye Armstrong forced his way over from close range.

Despite Sullivan Medforth kicking both points from the tee, the Warriors saw out the closing minutes to maintain their position at the top of the table after a 26-24 win.

Gallery

Wigan Warriors Reserves: Jacob Douglas, Ethan Fitzgerald, Iain Thornley, Zach Eckersley, Maddox Jeffery, Charlie Yeomans, Logan Astley, Harvey Makin, Joe Baldwin, Kavan Rothwell, Finlay Irwin, Finley Beardsworth, Harvey Wilson.

Interchanges: Max Wood, Ryan Brown, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, George O’Loughlin.

18th Player: Josh Cartwright.

Tries: Jeffery (8′, 63′), Eckersley (11′), Fitzgerald (30′), Rothwell (50′).

Goals: Eckersley (3/5).

Hull FC Reserves: Harvey Barron, Roman Dawson, Callum Shaw, Manoa Wacokecoke, Lewis Martin, Sullivan Medforth, Ben McNamara, Matthew Laidlaw, Jeylan Hodgson, Jude Thompson, Zach Jebson, Jude Ferreira, Kye Armstrong.

Interchanges: Luke Garmston, Leon Stewart, Lennon Bursell, Joe Ward.

18th Player: Edward Nolan.

Tries: Hodgson (23′), Ferreira (47′), Jebson (68′), Armstrong (77′).

Goals: McNamara (1/1), Medforth (3/3).

Referee: Adam Williams.