Warriors Academy beat Trinity

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy win against Wakefield Trinity Academy.
• Watch highlights and full match on Wigan TV HERE.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 28-12 Wakefield Trinity.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against Wakefield Trinity to maintain their fine form.

The Warriors built up a healthy 24-0 lead in the opening forty minutes as Wigan scored through Jaiden Drachenberg, Finlay Yeomans, Reece Rowcroft and Noah Hodkinson as Nathan Lowe added all four conversions.

Wigan scored a sole second half try through Josh Cartwright as Wakefield responded with two scores but it was the Warriors who held on for another two points in the Academy League.

Report

Wigan Warriors Academy opened the scoring after 10 minutes as a cut-out pass to Jaiden Drachenberg on the wing saw the winger dive in for the opener on the left edge. Nathan Lowe converted the score for an early 6-0 lead.

With both sides going set-for-set it wasn’t until the half hour mark before the scoreline was improved and it was Wigan who crossed again. Jaiden Drachenberg ran the ball in to get the Warriors 10m away before Charlie Yeomans sent a perfect cross-field kick for Finlay Yeomans to collect in the air and ground in-goal. Nathan Lowe added the extras from close range and it was 12-0.

Almost immediately Wigan were in again as the boot of Charlie Yeomans caused trouble for Wakefield again. This time a chip over the top was allowed to bounce before interchange Reece Rowcroft collected to crash over. Lowe made it a third consecutive conversion for 18-0 from out wide.

Wigan had a final say in the first half as they scored in the final minute. A grubber kick through from Trinity went to full-back Noah Hodkinson who stepped inside to break free and race the full-length of the field to score under the sticks which Lowe improved once more to see Wigan with the 24-0 lead at the turnaround.

Wigan continued their excellent attacking form into the second half as they scored again in the 43rd minute. After going close under the sticks, the ball was then sent right for Hodkinson to put Josh Cartwright over in the right corner. Lowe was unable to convert this time but Wigan were at 28-0.

The visitors responded in the 50th minute though to get their first points on the board. Stephenson was close to going over but the second play saw a barging play from Staveley-Carr to get over the line. The effort was converted by Ratcliffe as Wigan held the 28-6 advantage.

Just after the hour Wakefield got a second, Finnley Thompson receiving the ball in front of the sticks and despite Wigan’s defensive efforts the Trinity player managed to sneak out of the tackle to ground the ball. The score was once again added to from the tee by Ratcliffe for 28-12.

A quieter final 15 ensued as Wigan held on after the late response from Wakefield to confirm the 28-12 victory.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Josh Cartwright, Finlay Yeomans, Nathan Lowe, Jaiden Drachenberg, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Purtill, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Kian McDermott, George O’Loughlin, Lukas Mason, Taylor Kerr.

Interchange: Reece Rowcroft, Leo Wadsworth, Jack Bibey, Michael Porter.

18th Player: Harlen Smith.

Tries: Drachenberg (10′), F.Yeomans (30′), Rowcroft (33′), Hodkinson (39′), Cartwright (43′)

Goals: Lowe 4/5

Wakefield Trinity: Harry Ratcliffe, Cobie McGillivary, Ewan Molyneux, Dominic Sinfield, Amir Sghaier, Jack Easton, Rowan Stephenson, Ellis Lingard, Harvey Smith, Alfie Briggs, Ashton Winks, Cain Staveley-Carr, William Hardie.

Interchange: Noah Kershaw, Jonah Tuczemskyi, Finnley Thompson, Harvey Roberts.

18th Player: James Godfrey.

Tries: Staveley-Carr (49′), Thompson (62′)

Goals: Ratcliffe 2/2