Warriors seal Semi-Final spot

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against Castleford Tigers in the Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-Final.
• Wigan scored twelve tries, including four from Liam Marshall to progress to the Semi-Finals.
• FT | Castleford Tigers 6-60 Wigan Warriors.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors progress to the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals with a 60-6 win over Castleford Tigers.

Wigan scored twelve tries at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle to cruise through to the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals. Liam Marshall crossed for four tries, including his 150th career try with other tries coming from Abbas Miski (2), Brad O’Neill, Bevan French, Adam Keighran, Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dupree and Jake Wardle.

Report

Wigan opened the scoring in the fourth minute as Jai Field sent centre Jake Wardle through to send Liam Marshall away on the left edge, Marshall diving in at the corner. From the touchline, Smith couldn’t add the extras but Wigan held the early 4-0 advantage.

Straight from the restart Wigan were away again, a great break in the middle from Brad O’Neill got him close to the goal line, the hooker passed outside to Adam Keighran who returned the favour straight back inside for Brad O’Neill to finish off the move close to the sticks. Smith converted and it was 10-0 after 8 minutes.

The Warriors crossed again in the 13th minute. Bevan French sent a kick towards the uprights which was straight into the hands of a Castleford player, French recovered well though to get the ball back one-on-one to ease over for Wigan’s third of the afternoon. Smith converted for 16-0.

Liam Marshall crossed for his 150th career try in the 18th minute, Jake Wardle made a great break down the left edge with Marshall in support on the inside to glide under the sticks. Smith converted to make it 22-0.

Wigan added a fifth in the 22nd minute as a great break down the middle allowed Jai Field to then send a cut-out pass to Adam Keighran in acres of space on the right edge to stroll in. Smith added the extras once more for 28-0.

Castleford had their best chance of the half as Innes Senior collected a looping pass to race down the left edge, Bevan French chased the winger down to make a try-saving tackle just before the line, before the Tigers coughed up possession. Willie Isa was stretchered off the field of play in the 28th minute after suffering a serious leg injury.

Castleford got their first points on the board just after the restart of the stoppage, a Broadbent kick trickling through for Innes Senior to ground in the left corner. Richardson’s touchline conversion bounced off the crossbar and in to make it 28-6 to Wigan going in at the break.

Wigan started the second half with as much intent as the first and Abbas Miski got on the scoresheet just four minutes after the restart, collecting a looping pass to the right wing to touch down in the corner. In the blink of an eye, Kruise Leeming was over as a fantastic break from Junior Nsemba sent the hooker away to dive over. Smith converted for 38-6.

Liam Marshall completed his hat-trick on 50 minutes as the Warriors winger received the ball out wide, before cutting inside to slip the defenders and muscle his way over. He then added a fourth seven minutes later, received a pass from French in space on the left to ease over for Wigan’s ninth of the afternoon. Smith couldn’t convert the two efforts as the score stood at 46-6.

Wigan extended their lead in the 65th minute as Jake Wardle got his name on the scoresheet, powering through the defence to race away and score undeterred. Abbas Miski then got a second try in the 68th minute in acrobatic style on the right wing as the score was 54-6. Tyler Dupree rounded off the comfortable victory as he crossed under the posts in the dying minutes, Smith converted to secure the 60-6 win and progression to the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals.

Gallery:

Castleford Tigers: Jack Broadbent, Josh Hodson, Charbel Tasipale, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Danny Richardson, Jacob Miller, Luis Johnson, Liam Horne, Samy Kibula, Alex Mellor, Elie El Zakhem, Joe Westerman.

Interchange: Sylvester Namo, Cain Robb, Brad Martin, Daniel Hindmarsh Takyi.

18th Player: George Hill.

Tries: Senior (31′)

Goals: Richardson 1/1

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, Kruise Leeming, Harvie Hill, Junior Nsemba.

18th Player: Zach Eckersley.

Tries: Marshall (4′, 18′, 50′, 57′), O’Neill (6′), French (13′), Keighran (22′), Miski (44′, 68′), Leeming (47′), Wardle (65′), Dupree (78′)

Goals: Smith 6/12

Referee: Liam Moore

Attendance: 4097