Warriors take victory against Hull KR

  • Match Report as Wigan Warriors take a table-topping victory against Hull KR at The Brick Community Stadium.
  • Abbas Miski, Junior Nsemba and Bevan French were on the scoresheet for the Warriors, before a Liam Marshall double secured a huge win at The Brick Community Stadium.
  • FT | Wigan Warriors 24-20 Hull KR.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Hull KR at the Brick Community Stadium in Round 25 of Betfred Super League action.

The much anticipated top of the table clash between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR more than lived up to expectation, with the Cherry and Whites trailing for over an hour before a Liam Marshall double secured an enthralling victory in front of over 16,000 at The Brick Community Stadium.

Tries from Matt Parcell and Mikey Lewis saw the Robins open up a 10 point lead in the first half before Abbas Miski and Junior Nsemba struck one back each for their side, but penalty goals either side of half-time by Lewis would cancel the latter try out. Further hope was lost when the visitors went the full distance to extend their lead to 12 points with a Joe Burgess try, but a comeback inspired by some Bevan French individual brilliance was completed by Liam Marshall, with three tries scored in just over 10 minutes to take the win.

Report

There was a Grand Final like atmosphere at The Brick Community Stadium building up to kick off, with fireworks and a deafening roar from the crowd as the players took to the field for the much anticipated top of the table clash.

As for the action on the pitch, both teams would get through their sets for the first six minutes until a miscue between Kruise Leeming and Ethan Havard saw Hull KR awarded a scrum past half-way for a knock-on. The Warriors stood firm in defence to ensure the visitors were unable to make their first opportunity of the evening count, before marching up the field themselves with a strong following set. Junior Nsemba would raise the Wigan crowd off their feet minutes later after breaking a tackle to open up the Hull defence, but a lack of support on his shoulder would see that attack come to nothing.

Another break – this time from Jai Field down the left flank – was evidence that the Warriors were moving the ball well, but penalties were hampering their progress, and a high tackle from Harry Smith on Ryan Hall took the Robins into home territory. Another foul at the end of that set would grant KR a further six tackles in front of the Wigan posts where Matt Parcell profited, sneaking in from dummy-half to score the first try of the game. Mikey Lewis converted.

Looking to bounce back, the Warriors defended the Robins’ next set well to earn possession back, but the ball coming loose as Luke Thompson was tackled would grant the away side with another opportunity to post points. They would once again close up to the Wigan try-line quickly, where Lewis tip-toed his way through the Warriors’ defence to score a second Hull KR try in quick succession. Despite missing the conversion, the half-back had put his side 10 points up with 25 minutes gone.

Moments later, the Warriors looked vulnerable once again in their own half as space opened up for the Robins down the left hand side. They would kick across field to end another dangerous set, but Wardle was ready and waiting to capitalise and counter-attack. He returned the ball past half-way before support arrived the way of Field on his shoulder, who took his side even further up the pitch before being tackled by Joe Burgess. Burgess would hold Field down and not allow him to play the ball, leaving referee Jack Smith no choice but to send him to the sin bin.

Trying and testing the visiting defence, the Warriors earned a repeat set, which, along with the extra man, they would take advantage of. Field’s floated pass found Abbas Miski on the right wing, who used a burst of pace to help him leap towards the corner and ground the ball under the tackle of two defenders. Adam Keighran’s kick was just wide of the post.

The Warriors attack was beginning to click and Bevan French was enjoying plenty of the possession in the middle of the park. Once more up into Hull KR territory, French would dance side to side along their line before passing to a wide open Junior Nsemba on the left flank, who beat Broadbent to the corner and further cut the deficit with Wigan’s second try of the evening. Keighran’s conversion came even closer than his previous effort, but still to no avail.

Almost immediately from kick off, a loose carry from the Warriors would see the visitors granted a set of six in a threatening position with time running thin. Just metres away from the Warriors’ line, an interference with the play-the-ball would see the Robins awarded a penalty, which they opted to kick and convert through Lewis to extend their advantage by two. Despite a late effort from Matt Peet’s side to capitalise on a repeat set, they would lose the ball on the hooter with the half-time score at 12-8 to Hull KR.

The intensity of the affair would not drop after the break and with KR once again in possession, a late hit from Tom Forber on Lewis would once again give him the option to kick from the tee. He converted once more and his side were six points to the good. Lewis was at the heart of the action once more as he walked across the Warriors’ line before being tackled, where he would knock the ball on at the play-the-ball to grant the Warriors with a set of six 30 metres out.

A repeat set made the opportunity one Wigan desperately wanted to take advantage of, but a wayward pass from Smith intercepted by Peta Hiku would flip the attack on it’s head, as he ran nearly the full distance up the other end of the pitch before passing to Burgess, who scored in front of the travelling support. Lewis’ kick from the right of the posts was good to take his side to 20 on the night.

A relentless spell of defence from Hull KR saw the Warriors struggling to get out of their own half, but a high tackle on Liam Marshall would provide some much needed restbite, with Patrick Mago then making some solid metres to give his side a chance. A dropped interception from Burgess granted a repeat set, which looked to be coming to nothing on the final tackle until French took matters into his own hands. The Australian spotted space behind the defence to stab a kick through, which he would incredibly collect and score himself. Keighran converted and the game was at one score.

Minutes later, a potentially game-changing moment would occur. Tyler Dupree was hit high by Jai Whitbread upon attempting to bring the ball out, and the Robins’ forward was yellow carded for the challenge, giving Peet’s side a man advantage for the next 10 minutes.

With the extra body, the Warriors were finding another level of energy to their opposition, as a strong carry from Liam Farrell took them 40 metres out on the last tackle. Trusting one another with each pass, Wigan opted to move the ball out wide the way of Field, who used his electric pace to find Marshall on the touchline. He continued the attack down the wing, opting not to kick back inside and beating the last defender himself to score in front of the South Stand. Keighran nailed the kick from out wide, and this blockbuster affair was level.

Mago had made his physical presence known throughout the contest, but it would be the forward’s hands that would take the headlines. He played a wonderful one-two with Nsemba before unleashing Wardle down the left flank, who powered down the field before passing to Marshall for his second try of the night. Keighran’s conversion hit the post, but the Warriors led for the first time in the game with 10 minutes remaining.

The Cherry and Whites had grown into the game and it was emerging they had peaked at the perfect time. Despite being wasteful with their sets, a combination of tackles from the Warriors’ right flank saw Ryan Hall dragged into touch, which was roared like a try by the supporters.

With two minutes to go, a repeat set for Willie Peters’ side gave them one last chance to prevent a Warriors victory. Moving the ball from left to right, Matty Storton was met by a thunderous tackle from Harry Smith, dislodging the ball to be gathered by Nsemba. The Warriors would stand firm on the following set to take an emphatic win in front of over 16,000 at The Brick Community Stadium.

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Interchange: Liam Byrne (Unused), Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Tom Forber.

18th Player: Sam Walters.

Tries: Miski (31′), Nsemba (33′), French (57′), Marshall (63′, 69′)

Goals: Keighran (2/5)

Hull KR: Jack Broadbent, Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Ryan Hall, Tyrone May, Mikey Lewis, Sauaso Sue, Matt Parcell, Jai Whitbread, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.

Interchange: Jez Litten, Sam Luckley, Matty Storton, Kelepi Tanginoa.

18th Player: Jack Brown.

Tries: Parcell (19′), Lewis (24′), Burgess (50′)

Goals: Lewis (4/5).

Sin Bin: Burgess (29′), Whitbread (59′).

Attendance: 16,719.

Referee: Jack Smith.

Friday 06 September 2024