Warriors win away at Warrington

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against Warrington Wolves.
• Three first-half tries and a drop goal from the Warriors secured the two-points on the road.
• FT | Warrington Wolves 18-19 Wigan Warriors.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors win away at Warrington wolves with a harry smith drop goal the difference.

Jacob Douglas made his first team debut as Ryan Hampshire and Liam Byrne both his Super League milestones with Hampshire making his 150th appearance and Liam Byrne 100th.

Despite finding themselves 12-0 down after 20 minutes, Wigan responded well with a trio of converted tries from Junior Nsemba, Liam Marshall and Kruise Leeming paired with a Harry Smith drop goal to send them in 19-12 to the good at the interval.

Adam Keighran was shown a red card for the Warriors in the second forty as the only try of the half saw Stefan Ratchford cross for the hosts with two minutes to go. Harry Smith’s first half drop goal was the difference as the Warriors secured the 19-18 victory.

Report

Harry Smith ended the opening set with a kick to Connor Wrench but the Centre couldn’t collect and knocked the ball on to give Wigan a scrum 20m away. Liam Marshall thought he’d opened the scoring as he went over on the left wing after 2 minutes but the video referee chalked off the effort with Marshall’s foot in touch.

Warrington got the first points on the board as a penalty to the hosts 15 minutes out was sent between the sticks from the boot of Stefan Ratchford for 2-0.

The Wolves crossed shortly afterwards as Josh Drinkwater sent a grubber kick through for Arron Lindop to ground, but Ratchford couldn’t find the target from the tee this time and it was 6-0.

Josh Drinkwater then went over for Warrington’s second try as the scrum-half chased a teasing grubber kick to get the ball down under the sticks, which Ratchford converted to make it 12-0 after 20 minutes.

Wigan reduced the deficit by six-points after 22 minutes as Junior Nsemba crashed onto a ball before shrugging off the Warrington defence to go over on the right edge as Adam Keighran added the conversion from out wide.

Liam Marshall finished off a fantastic acrobatic effort on the left wing in the 31st minute as Wigan levelled the scores. A penalty just over half way allowed Wigan a full set in Warrington’s territory and they got the reward. Keighran added the conversion for 12-12.

Kruise Leeming got Wigan ahead for the first time in the game just three minutes later, Bevan French made a great individual break from half-way with Leeming in support on the inside to dive under the sticks, Keighran converted once again to make it 18-12.

Harry Smith had the last say of the half, first hitting a 40/20 to get Wigan a fresh set deep upfield before slotting a drop goal from close range to send Wigan in with the 19-12 lead.

Hampshire had a great opportunity to extend Wigan’s lead 8 minutes into the second half as Eckersley sent Marshall racing down the left edge, his kick back inside towards the posts looked to bounce perfectly for Hampshire but the full-back couldn’t get the ball down.

Warrington reacted to get straight back on the attack and with Marshall receiving treatment the Wolves looked to take advantage on the left but a fantastic effort from Zach Eckersley saw Wrench put into touch as he attempted to ground an effort for the home side.

The Wolves threatened another score in the 64th minute but a crossfield kick from Ratchford towards Rodrick Tai was not taken in the air as the ball went into touch.

Wigan were reduced to 12-men as Adam Keighran was shown a red card with the Centre deemed to have made an illegal challenge.

Stefan Ratchford scored for Warrington in the 78th minute, collecting a crossfield kick to fly under the uprights, converting his own score to reduce the difference to just a point but it was Wigan who took the two Betfred Super League points with a rematch at Wembley for the Betfred Challenge Cup to follow in just seven days time.

Gallery:

Warrington Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray, Arron Lindop, Connor Wrench, Rodrick Tai, Jake Thewlis, Stefan Ratchford, Josh Drinkwater, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Max Wood, Adam Holroyd, Nolan Tupaea, Tom Whitehead.

Interchange: Matty Nicholson, Zane Musgrove, Lucas Green, Ben Hartill.

18th Player: Daniel Okoro.

Tries: Lindop (6′), Drinkwater (18′), Ratchford (78′)

Goals: Ratchford 3/4

Wigan Warrriors: Ryan Hampshire, Jacob Douglas, Adam Keighran, Zach Eckersley, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Junior Nsemba, Sam Walters, Kaide Ellis.

Interchange: Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago, Harvie Hill.

18th Player: Jack Farrimond.

Tries: Nsemba (22′), Marshall (31′), Leeming (34′)

Goals: Keighran 3/3

Drop Goal: Harry Smith (40′)

Red Card: Adam Keighran (69′)

Attendance: 12,181

Referee: Jack Smith.