Reserves beaten in Grand Final
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors were beaten by St Helens in the Reserves Grand Final.
- Despite tries from Harvie Hill, Finlay Yeomans, Jacob Douglas and Tom Ratchford, the Warriors fell short at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
- FT | St Helens Reserves 24-18 Wigan Warriors Reserves.
Wigan Warriors were beaten 24-18 by St Helens in the Reserves Grand Final at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Wigan Warriors made the short journey to the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens for the Reserves Grand Final. Wigan Warriors were the holders having beat St Helens 24-0 a year ago at Robin Park in wet conditions and also won the title in 2022 beating Wakefield Trinity.
Wigan scored tries through Harvie Hill, Finlay Yeomans, Jacob Douglas and Tom Ratchford, however, the Warriors fell short in their attempt to lift the Reserves League title for a third straight season.
Report
The Warriors conceded an early penalty and St Helens attacked the Wigan line. Wigan held firm but an error on the first tackle created another opportunity for St Helens and prop forward Brett Bailey crashed over the line after two minutes with Will Roberts converting to make the score 6-0.
The wet conditions caused a few handling errors from both sides, but soon Wigan settled into a rhythm and they were rewarded on 13 minutes when Harvie Hill powered his way over. Jack Farrimond converted to level the scores at 6-6.
St Helens went back in front on 23 minutes with an attack down the right edge which Ben Will finished by diving in at the corner despite the attentions of Noah Hodkinson and Jacob Douglas to keep him out. Roberts missed the conversion but St Helens led 10-6.
Wigan hit back three minutes later when Finlay Yeomans collected a kick on the sixth tackle in his own ten metre area to sprint the length of the field to score a brilliant try. Farrimond’s conversion from the touchline drifted slightly wide but the scores were tied at 10-10.
F. Yeoman’s try gave Wigan a massive boost and they were unlucky not to go into the lead when Hill was adjudged to have been held up over the line.
Douglas saved a certain try when he put Will into touch, but unfortunately the referee had spotted an earlier late hit on Lane and awarded St Helens a penalty which Roberts kicked to give the home side a 12-10 lead on 37 minutes.
St Helens increased the lead to 14-10 when Roberts kicked a penalty with ease to give the hosts a 14-10 lead at the break.
The Warriors fell further behind straight after the break when a handling error from kick off gave Saints a set on the Wigan line. Cole Marsh scored the home sides third try as Roberts converted to increase the lead to 20-10.
Farrimond gave Wigan hope with a 40-20 kick, from which Wigan moved the ball quickly from right to left and Douglas scored in the corner. Farrimond’s kick was wide but Wigan were within one score at 20-14.
Wigan reintroduced Kalum Rathbone and Hill into the action on 50 minutes. Wigan stepped their game up and were rewarded when Ratchford bulldozed his way over in the corner. Farrimond’s conversion attempt looked good but drifted wide at the last second as Wigan were now well in the game with momentum trailing by just two points.
Wigan attacked the Saints line and what looked like an accidental collision finished with Reagan Sumner receiving a yellow card on 56 minutes. Tempers flared two minutes later with players from both sides pushing and shoving one another. The referee spoke to both captains telling them to calm their players down.
Wigan lost Ratchford on 62 minutes with a cut to his head. Shortly afterwards talisman Farrimond went down clutching his right leg which was heavily strapped before the game started. Thankfully he resumed after treatment.
Saints exploited the gap on Wigan’s right edge due to Sumner’s sin-binning and scored on an overlap through Ellis Anderson on 66 minutes. Roberts missed the conversion and Wigan trailed 24-18.
Wigan tried to close the gap but Saints defence was holding firm. Wigan mounted a final assault on the Saints line in the closing minutes with a 40-20 but the home side defended the final two tackles to win the game 24-18.
St Helens: Ben Lane, Ben Will, Jonny Vaughan, Ben Davies, Ellis Anderson, George Whitby, Will Roberts, Alfie Sinclair, Ciaran Nolan, Brett Bailey, McKenzie Buckley, Sam Royle, Leon Cowen,
Interchanges: Cole Marsh, Sam Oakes, Noah Stephens, Jerry Carty.
18th Player: Max McGucken.
Tries: Bailey (3′), Will (23′), Marsh (42′)
Goals: Roberts (4/5).
Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Reagan Sumner, Finlay Yeomans, Nathan Lowe, Jacob Douglas, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Kian McDermott, Kalum Rathbone, Harvey Makin, Finley Beardsworth, Lukas Mason, Harvie Hill.
Interchanges: Tom Ratchford, Josh Cartwright, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Ryan Brown.
18th Player: Dylan Kelly-Duffy
Tries: Hill (13′), F. Yeomans (26′), Douglas (45′), Ratchford (54′).
Goals: Farrimond (1/4).
Sin-bin: Sumner (56′).
