Warriors defeat Giants
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors take a home win against Huddersfield Giants at the DW Stadium.
- Liam Marshall scored a hat-trick as Wigan sealed another Betfred Super League victory.
- FT | Wigan Warriors 30-16 Huddersfield Giants.
Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Huddersfield Giants 30-16 in Betfred Super League.
Luke Thompson returned to the starting line-up for Matt Peet’s side as Tom Forber also made his home debut for the Club, his first appearance since 2022. Tiaki Chan also made his Warriors debut, as a late replacement for Liam Byrne onto the interchange bench.
Liam Marshall scored a 44 minute hat trick to help Wigan to their second Betfred Super League victory of the season in as many matches, with tries also coming from Bevan French and Tyler Dupree securing the win.
Report
Having defended an initial Huddersfield attack well, Wigan made their way up the field breaking on the right hand side. Adam Keighran would find Abbas Miski on the wing in Huddersfield territory, who’s attempted pass back inside to Keighran was batted out of play by Adam Swift.
With a fresh set of six 20 metres out from goal, the Warriors would work the ball wide to the left. Jake Wardle quickly passed outside to Liam Marshall, who stepped inside past two defenders to score the first try of the game. Harry Smith made no mistake from the tee, making it 6-0 to Wigan.
Just under 10 minutes later, the Cherry and Whites would double their lead. Jai Field carried the ball over to the right hand side before passing to Adam Keighran, who would dummy one man to break through and pass inside to Bevan French. With no defenders left to beat, French could dart through and dive behind the posts to score, with Smith still good from the tee.
Having started the game positively with a fair share of possession, things quickly became increasingly difficult for the visitors. With Tyler Dupree on his way to ground under the tackle of two Giants defenders, Adam Milner came in late with a high hit that saw him face 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Just moments later, Wigan would make the extra man count. With Huddersfield facing their second consecutive defensive set following a goal line drop out, Field worked the ball wide to Wardle, who once again found Marshall to score his second of the game. Smith continued his impressive kicking form, confidently converting from the left touchline.
The away side would have their best opportunity to score yet, with a fresh set of six from 10 metres out as a result of an offside. The Cherry and Whites would defend valiantly to keep out Ian Watson’s side, helped by a sold out South Stand cheering each and every tackle.
However, another Huddersfield attack would form just minutes later, which they would go on to convert. A flat pass from Adam Clune reached Elliot Wallis on the right wing, who touched down well in the corner to cut the deficit by four.
With Matt Peet’s side looking to bounce back just before the break, a high looping pass from Smith to French left the Warriors with a few men over on the right flank. French would send a grubber kick forwards, which would bounce out of the back of the in-goal area at the feet of Jake Connor.
As Connor looked to quickly take the ball out to restart, Keighran was ruled to have prevented him from doing so by referee Jack Smith, who sent the centre to the sin bin with the half-time score at 18-4.
With Wigan facing a tough ten minutes down to 12 men to start the second half, a penalty to Huddersfield took them into Wigan territory on the opening set. On the final tackle, the ball was worked wide left to Esan Marsters near the goal line, who offloaded out of a swarm of Wigan defenders to Adam Swift, who scored in the corner to make it 18-10.
Despite the man disadvantage, a set restart on the opposing 10 metre line presented Wigan a great opportunity to shift the momentum. Having been involved in plenty of attacks during the first half, Field would once again find himself in a threatening position on the left hand side, firing a pass wide to Marshall who would score and seal his hat trick.
With both sides failing to convert attacks in the following 20 minutes, Connor chipped the ball to the right corner of Wigan’s goal line for Huddersfield, which Wallis would jump and bat back inside. Wardle anticipated it, catching the ball and breaking to halfway before passing to Marshall, who continued the break.
Marshall would then find Farrell in Huddersfield territory, who was hit late upon passing to Smith. A penalty was given, which Smith would kick through the posts as the Warriors opted for two points.
As the Cherry and Whites were looking to cruise to victory, a third Huddersfield try would set up for a closer final 10 minutes than anticipated. A high kick was claimed in front of the Wigan posts by Jack Murchie, who would back over the goal line to score. Russell added the extras to make the score 24-16.
However, just over five minutes later, Wigan would make sure of the win. With the ball in front of the Huddersfield posts, a quick ball from Tom Forber on his first senior appearance since 2022 would allow Tyler Dupree to power through the Giants defence and score. Smith’s kick was good, making the final score 30-12 to Wigan.
Gallery:
Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Luke Thompson, Brad O’Neill, Tyler Dupree, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.
Interchange: Patrick Mago, Tiaki Chan, Harvie Hill, Tom Forber.
18th Player: Zach Eckersley.
Tries: Marshall (11’, 21’, 44’), French (15’), Dupree 75’).
Goals: Smith (4/5).
Sin bins: Keighran (39’).
Huddersfield Giants: Jake Connor, Adam Swift, Esan Marsters, Kevin Naiqama, Elliot Wallis, Olly Russell, Adam Clune, Chris Hill, Adam Milner, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Jack Murchie, Sam Hewitt, Leroy Cudjoe.
Interchange: Ashton Golding, Matty English, Oliver Wilson, Hugo Salabio.
18th Player: Tui Lolohea
Tries: Wallis (34’), Swift (42’), Murchie (69’).
Goals: Russell (2/3).
Sin bins: Milner (18’).
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 15, 357
By Harvey Orgill
