Reserves reach Grand Final

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Hull FC to reach the Reserves Grand Final.
• Noah Hodkinson scored a hat-trick as the Warriors crossed for eight tries in the win.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 40-24 Hull FC.

Wigan Warriors beat hull fc 40-24 at Wigan rufc to reach the reserves grand final.

An end to end first half saw the sides go into the break level before four second half tries from the Warriors sealed the win and their place in the Reserves Grand Final against St Helens.

Report

Hull FC, who needed a win to keep their chances of reaching the Grand Final alive, almost made the perfect start to the contest when Owen Haldenby powered through from close range, however, the hooker was held up by the Wigan defence.

After forcing an error from the Warriors on halfway, Hull FC made metres through the middle before play was worked to the left edge where Ryan Westerman dummied over. The centre was unable to convert his own try as the score remained 4-0 with seven minutes on the clock.

The visitors widened their advantaged three minutes later when Leon Stewart broke through a gap in the defensive line before passing inside to Lennon Clark who had enough to power evade the tackle to score. Westerman added the extras to make the score 10-0.

A late tackle on Tom Ratchford allowed the Warriors to start their attacking set 30m out from which Charlie Yeoman’s kick was knocked out for a drop out. The Warriors powered towards the Hull FC line as Nathan Lowe stepped through four tacklers to score. An unsuccessful conversion kept the score at 10-4.

The Warriors responded instantly when, off the back of a 40/20 from Ratchford, a quick show of hands resulted in Hodkinson bursting through for his first of the afternoon. The touchline kick was unsuccessful as Wigan trailed 10-8 after 18 minutes.

After picking up a loose ball deep inside the Warriors defensive half, Stewart accelerated through a gap before playing a one-two with Callum Barfield to score. The kick from Westerman was successful to increase the score to 16-8 at the mid-point of the half.

Wigan cut the points difference six minutes later when clever play by Ratchford on the last tackle saw the hooker step away from the tackle to dive over between the sticks. Finlay Yeomans added the extras to make the score 16-14.

The Warriors fought back to go ahead six minutes before the break when a powerful 30m run from Josh Cartwright led to Hull FC being penalised for interference. A deep kick allowed Wigan to start their attacking set 20m out which eventually led to play being worked to the right edge where Hodkinson crossed for a second before F. Yeomans added the extras for a 20-16 lead.

Despite strong defensive work to keep William Wilson out after a powerful carry from close range, the Warriors were unable to prevent Mitieli Vulikjapani from diving over in the corner. Westerman’s kick was off target as the sides went into the break level at 20-20.

After an end-to-end start to the second half, the Warriors regained the lead on 63 minutes when Austin Daniel’s short pass to Harlen Smith allowed the winger to ground in the corner. The points difference remained four following an unsuccessful touchline kick.

An error from the restart saw the Warriors concede a drop out from which Hull FC added a fifth try when a short pass to Clark saw the second rower crash through two tacklers to score his second. Westerman’s kick drifted across the posts which kept the score level at 24-24.

A blistering last 10 minutes saw the Warriors cross for three tries to seal the two points and a place in the Reserves Grand Final.

After a neat offload from F. Yeomans saw Lukas Mason take the Warriors 10m out following a powerful carry, a short pass from Ratchford to Charlie Yeomans allowed him to step inside to score. F. Yeomans made no mistake in adding the extras to put Wigan 30-24 lead.

Hull FC were reduced to 12-men on 74 minutes when a dangerous tackle on George O’Loughlin resulted in a red card being shown. The Warriors took advantage in the following set when Hodkinson cut through the defence to complete his hat-trick as F. Yeomans added two more points.

The Warriors scored an eighth and final try with two minutes remaining when F. Yeomans crashed over between two defenders before successfully adding the extras to take his points total to 14.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Harlen Smith, Austin Daniel, Nathan Lowe, Joshua Cartwright, Finlay Yeomans, Charlie Yeomans, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Tom Ratchford, Kian McDermott, George O’Loughlin, Lukas Mason, Kalum Rathbone.

Interchanges: Leo Wadsworth, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Finley Beardsworth, Ryan Brown.

18th Player: Michael Porter.

Tries: Lowe (15′), Hodkinson (18′, 34′, 74′), Ratchford (26′), Smith (63′), C. Yeomans (69′), F. Yeomans (78′).

Goals: Lowe (0/1), F. Yeomans (5/7).

Hull FC: Lyod Kemp, Mitieli Vulikjapani, Ryan Westerman, Leon Stewart, Callum Barfield, Sullivan Medforth, Matthew Laidlaw, Jeylan Hodgson, Owen Haldenby, Lennon Clark, Lennon Bursell, Jordon Baker.

Interchanges: William Hutchinson, Kieran Calvert, Jonathon Turner, William Wilson.

18th Player: Cobie Wainhouse.

Tries: Westerman (7′), Clark (10′, 66′), Stewart (21′), Vulikjapani (39′),

Goals: Westerman (2/5).

Red Card: (74′)