Warriors beat Hull FC

• Match report as Wigan Warriors defeat Hull FC at The Brick Community Stadium.
• Jacob Douglas opened the scoring for the Warriors on his home debut, as Zach Eckersley, Junior Nsemba and Jack Farrimond also crossed on their way to victory.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 22-4 Hull FC

Match Report as Wigan Warriors take victory at home to Hull FC in Round 23 of Betfred Super League action.

Liam Marshall captained the side on his 200th career appearance as Jacob Douglas scored his first senior try on home debut to open the scoring. Zach Eckersley, Junior Nsemba and Jack Farrimond also crossed over to secure victory for Wigan, with all four scorers being Warriors Academy Graduates.

Jed Cartwright got one back for the visitors to close the gap to one score before the break, but Matt Peet’s side combined some impressive attacking teamwork with defensive grit across the 80 minutes to take the two points and remain level on points at the top of the Betfred Super League.

Report

The opening chance of the affair came after seven minutes, when a repeat set granted the Warriors a chance to threaten the visiting defence. As the Cherry and Whites closed in with the ball five metres out on the last tackle, an inviting grubber kick stabbed through by Kruise Leeming just bounced out of reach for Ethan Havard, but the visitors were forced into conceding the first goal-line drop out of the afternoon.

With that, the following possession would be made to count by Matt Peet’s side with a slick passing move to open the scoring. From left to right, Jack Farrimond found Jai Field from full-back, who sent a cut-out pass towards home debutant Jacob Douglas. Impressively catching the ball high above his head, the young winger then used his pace to find the corner and cross for his first senior try. Adam Keighran’s touchline conversion attempt was just wide of the posts.

With the Warriors making healthy metres into Hull territory with every set, a high kick was sent the way of Logan Moy to get underneath. Despite making the catch with no mistake, Moy was greeted by a number of chasing Warriors waiting to pounce and drag him into touch. With a scrum to follow 10 metres out, Luke Thompson would have a solid carry up the middle, but his side would ultimately lose possession and fail to make this set count.

With just under a quarter of the match gone, Field unleashed Liam Marshall in space down the left edge to make up some significant ground for the Warriors, before chipping the ball back inside the way of the full-back. Lewis Martin met the ball first, but knocked on to grant possession back to the Cherry and Whites in a dangerous position.

Once again, it would be the right flank where Peet’s side would profit, as a short ball from Field found Zach Eckersley, who crashed over for his sixth try of the season. Keighran made no mistake on this occasion from the tee to leave his side 10 points to the good.

Minutes later, Keighran would break the Hull line 30 metres out, but with little support on his shoulder and Jack Charles holding him back, an audacious looping pass towards the left flank bounced behind Jake Wardle and Marshall and into touch to grant the Black and Whites with a scrum.

Their first real opportunity of the half would come as a result, with Martin breaking and racing away deep into Warriors territory, where he was caught by Field around 15 metres out. Eager to capitalise, the away side moved the ball well towards their right edge, where Jed Cartwright was on hand to score from close range. Charles’ kick was just wide, meaning the Warriors held a six point advantage going into the closing stages of the first half.

With the Black and Whites threatening the Warriors line, a high kick on the final tackle was caught by Marshall, who earned a penalty and some relief for his side as he was prevented from playing the ball. Another penalty back-to-back took the home side into opposition territory, but Sam Walters would be tackled 10 metres out to end the Warriors set.

The final opportunity of the half would also come the Warriors’ way, with a threatening repeat set that saw Marshall come close before Field’s grubber kick was secured by the Hull defence, ultimately sending the sides into the break at 10-4.

The away side would be the quickest out of the blocks to start the second 40, with a break from Morgan Smith taking them deep into Warriors territory. Field would gather a grubber kick from the Hull left edge to end that set, but he was dragged into touch to regrant the visitors possession.

Despite defending the resulting set well to force a turnover and gain possession, the Warriors would cheaply give it back, as a kick towards the touchline went out on the full. Thankfully for the Cherry and Whites, a low pass the way of Hull’s Harvey Barron saw him knock-on.

Having ridden out the early Hull FC storm, Peet’s side were able to make some second half metres of their own. Kruise Leeming started an attack with a weaving run before Field evaded more defenders, but Jack Farrimond’s kick was just too heavy for the chasing Douglas. Minutes later, Junior Nsemba would strip the ball off Logan Moy in his own half, giving the Warriors comfortably their best opportunity since the first half to post some points.

Following a stoppage for Marshall and Wardle to receive treatment following a clash of heads, Nsemba would reap the rewards of his prior work, as he received a drop-off pass from Keighran to crash over and score from short-range in front of the South Stand. Keighran’s kick was good as the Warriors restored their double digit advantage.

With just over an hour gone on the clock, an attack begun by a strong carry from Thompson found the hands of Ethan Havard, who played the ball back inside towards Field, who broke the Hull line before sending a looping pass the way of Wardle on the right flank. From dummy-half, Leeming would shape back towards the right and find Farrimond with a man over, who stepped past the lone defender to score a brilliant team try. Keighran was on target once more with the conversion.

Despite spending 10 of the last 15 minutes down to 12 with Patrick Mago in the sin bin, the Warriors would continue to stand firm in defence and even have some attacks of their own. Douglas came close to a second try in the corner before Farrimond broke the line with some shifty footwork, but Walters would drop the ball upon receiving the offload.

The Warriors took victory in front of over 12,000 at The Brick Community Stadium, as they maintained their place at the sharp end of the Betfred Super League table with four rounds to go in the regular season.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Jacob Douglas, Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Adam Keihgran, Jack Farrimond, Ethan Havard, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Sam Walters, Patrick Mago.

Interchange: Liam Byrne, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill, Tom Forber.

18th player: Abbas Miski

Tries: Douglas (8′), Eckersley (20′), Nsemba (55′), Farrimond (62′).

Goals: Keighran (3/4).

Sin Bin: Mago (65′).

Hull FC: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Carlos Tuimavave, Tom Briscoe, Lewis Martin, Morgan Smith, Jack Cahrles, Herman Ese’Ese, Jordan Lane, Will Gardiner, Ed Chamberlain, Jed Cartwright, Yusuf Aydin.

Interchange: Brad Fash, Jack Ashworth, Zach Jebson, Leon Ruan.

18th player: Matty Laidlaw.

Tries: Cartwright (27′).

Goals: Charles (0/1).

Referee: Aaron Moore.

Attendance: 12,347.