Warriors win in golden point

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors came from behind to record a golden point victory over Hull FC.
• After tries from Liam Marshall, Toby King and Jake Wardle, a drop goal from Harry Smith won Warriors the contest.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 13-12 Hull FC.

Wigan Warriors came from behind to win 13-12 in golden point against Hull FC at the DW Stadium.

After tries from Liam Marshall, Toby King and Jake Wardle took the contest to extra time, Harry Smith kicked a fantastic drop goal to claim the point.

Liam Byrne returned to the side to make his 100th appearance for the Warriors, while Sam Powell came off the bench to play his first Super League minutes since June.

Report

After both sides were forced into early head injury assessment changes – which Danny Houghton failed and Jake Wardle passed – Liam Sutcliffe kicked Hull FC into a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes.

The Warriors reacted strongly, and shortly after Jai Field almost set Marshall up on the left wing, Abbas Miski lost his footing metres out as Hull FC scrambled across to force the winger into touch.

Handling errors increased in the wet conditions, and after Hull FC failed to deal with a testing kick from Smith, Kai Pearce-Paul released the ball to Marshall who was able to touch down in the corner. The conversion hit the post, as the Warriors’ lead remained 4-2 after 31 minutes.

Hull FC regained the lead a minute before the hooter sounded when Adam Swift collected Jake Clifford’s kick to dive over. Sutcliffe was unable to add the extras with the final action of the half, meaning the visitors led 6-4 at the break.

The Warriors restarted brightly, and after a quick break from Brad O’Neill took Wigan 10m out, Smith’s delicate kick over the top was claimed by King, who lost control of the ball in an attempt to ground.

The Cherry and Whites continued to assert pressure on the Hull FC defence, and following a powerful break through the line from Pearce-Paul, Bevan French’s pass narrowly evaded Junior Nsemba metres out.

Hull FC increased their lead after 54 minutes when a high kick from Clifford was lost in the contact, and Brad Dwyer reacted first to touch down. The conversion was successful to give the visitors a 12-4 lead.

The Warriors responded on the hour when King stormed through the line before diving over off the back of a tidy pass from French, and King then almost levelled the match on 72 minutes, however, the ball had already been out of play before he grounded.

A big hit from Nsemba forced a knock on 30m out, and shortly after Carlos Tuimavave was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle, Wardle powered through to level the contest. The conversion was unable to be added which forced the game into extra time.

The Warriors started strongly and after a fantastic 60m break from Field took his side into dangerous territory, a powerful drive through the middle from Patrick Mago set the opportunity up for Smith to attempt a drop goal, however, the kick went wide.

Hull FC attempted to win the match themselves with their own kick at the end of the first part of extra time, however, Powell charged the effort down on half way as the hooter sounded.

A nervy contest was brought to an end with 88 minutes on the clock when Smith excellently slotted a drop goal attempt on half way, to earn the Warriors a hard fought point to continue their impressive run of form.

Gallery

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Brad O’Neill, Tyler Dupree, Kai Pearce-Paul, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.

Interchanges: Sam Powell, Patrick Mago, Harvie Hill, Junior Nsemba.

18th Player: Joe Shorrocks.

Tries: Marshall (31′), King (60′), Wardle (77′).

Goals: Smith (0/3).

Drop Goal: Smith.

Sin Bin: N/A.

Hull FC: Davy Litten, Darnell McIntosh, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe, Adam Swift, Jake Trueman, Jake Clifford, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Jack Brown, Cameron Stott, Andre Savelio, Joe Cator.

Interchanges: Chris Satae, Jordan Lane, Joe Lovodua, Brad Dwyer.

18th Player: Will Gardiner.

Tries: Swift (39′), Dwyer (54′).

Goals: Sutcliffe (2/3).

Sin Bin: Tuimavave (76′).

Referee: Aaron Moore.

Attendance: 12,107