Wigan progress to Academy Grand Final

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy come from behind to beat Warrington Wolves Academy.
• Tom Ratchford crossed for a double with Jack Farrimond also crossing and converting all three.
• FT | Wigan Warriors Academy 18-12 Warrington Wolves Academy.

Wigan Warriors Academy came from behind to claim a win and book their spot in the Academy Grand Final at Robin Park Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Report

It was all Warrington from the off at Robin Park Arena, as the visitors took an early lead through Arron Lindop, who linked up well with Cai Taylor-Wray to go over in the left corner. Noah Booth added the extras from out wide to make it 6-0 to Warrington.

The Wolves extended their lead in the 13th minute as Lindop and Taylor-Wray again doubled up, this time Lindop getting the break down the left before getting the ball inside to his full-back who eased over. Booth made it two from two with the boot for 0-12.

Wigan responded well though as they got a foothold in the game, Tom Ratchford was introduced from the interchange bench at hooker and made an instant impact. Jack Farrimond hit a 40/20 to get Wigan up the field as Ratchford played out of the first tackle to go over, Farrimond converting for 6-12.

Wigan levelled the scores in the 23rd minute as full-back Noah Hodkinson made a great break through the line, with Jack Farrimond in support to ease under the sticks, improving his own effort for 12-12.

Warrington had a great effort on the left edge with 5 minutes until the break as an offload saw them one-on-one but Maddox Jeffery did well to come away with the ball to deny the Wolves.

A penalty for a high shot just before the break also saw Warrington with a good opportunity, but the penalty kick from 20m out was off target as the teams went in square at the interval.

The second half was a much tighter affair as both sides went set-for-set, but it was Wigan who scored the only try of the second forty as Tom Ratchford crossed in the 55th minute, his second of the game. Ratchford spotted a gap to add the pace and peel away, going in close to the sticks which Jack Farrimond converted for a perfect record from the tee.

The bruising encounter owed to a lot of handling errors in the second half but Wigan had another fantastic opportunity as Farrimond chipped over the top before collecting himself, but the Warrington defence saw him wrapped up to deny Wigan a further score.

Warrington had the better of the chances in the final 10 minutes as they searched for an equalling score but the ball went to ground on multiple occasions for Wigan to see out the 18-12 victory, booking their spot in the Academy Grand Final where they will meet St Helens.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Maddox Jeffery, Josh Cartwright, Nathan Lowe, George O’Loughlin, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Joe Baldwin, Kian McDermott, Finlay Irwin, Lukas Mason, Taylor Kerr.

Interchange: Tom Ratchford, Ryan Brown, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Troy Richmond.

18th Player: Kalum Rathbone.

Tries: Ratchford (17′, 55′), Farrimond (23′)

Goals: Farrimond 3/3

Warrington Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray, Dylon Braddish, Zack Gardner, Arron Lindop, Jake Thewlis, Pat Irwin, Noah Booth, Logan Raughter, Lewis Barratt, Noah High, Ewan Smith, Nolan Tupaea, Sam Marshall.

Interchange: Ben Hartill, Alfie Mather, Stephen Antrobus, Joseph Bajer.

18th Player: Adam Whalley.

Tries: Lindop (2′), Taylor-Wray (13′)

Goals: Booth 2/3