Warriors Academy progress to Grand Final

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy win against Warrington Wolves Academy in the Semi-Finals.
• The Warriors progress to the 2024 Academy Grand Final.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 22-16 Warrington Wolves.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy beat warrington Wolves academy to progress to the Academy Grand Final.

After falling behind early on, Jack Farrimond was influential in getting the Warriors back ahead at the break with a converted try and penalty goal after the 20 minute mark got Wigan 8-6 ahead.

The Warriors increased their advantage after the restart with a converted Josh Cartwright try before another penalty goal was added by Farrimond. Warrington responded twice but an Austin Daniel try in-between the two Wolves scores and a final penalty goal from Jack Farrimond saw Wigan to 22-16 victory and through to the Academy Grand Final.

Report

Despite earning an early goal line drop out and seeing Austin Daniel bundled into touch short of the goal line, it was Warrington who opened the scoring after just 3 minutes in the semi-final clash. A kick to touch from Warrington was batted back into play by Wigan, but into Warrington hands as Frank Sergent collected to stray ball to send James Duffy racing down the right edge. Daniel Regan added the two from the tee to make it 0-6.

Wigan levelled the scores on 20 minutes as Jack Farrimond put on a teasing step to his right, which floored the Warrington defence to open up the space for the try. The half converted his own effort to get things all square at 6-6.

10 minutes later Warrington found themselves penalised for a high shot on Noah Hodkinson, and with the sticks in close range the Warriors opted for the two pointer which Jack Farrimond slotted over to send Wigan in with the narrow advantage 8-6 at the break.

Wigan improved their lead shortly after the restart as Josh Cartwright crashed over for their second try of the game. A fantastic effort saw Farrimond put the ball into the sky, Warrington allowed it to bounce as Nathan Lowe batted the ball wide into the hands of Cartwright to race away on the left and sneak over in the corner. Farrimond converted from the touchline to make it 14-6.

Almost immediately, Warrington were penalised after not clearing the ruck and once again Farrimond asked for the tee, slotting over his 12th point of the afternoon to give Wigan the 16-6 lead.

With Warrington looking to get back into the game, a penalty for a high tackle gave them a good opportunity but an error late in the set saw them denied again. With Wigan back on the ball a big challenge on Finlay Yeomans saw Kian Stanton shown a yellow card following a coming together.

Despite being a man down, Warrington got back in touch as a high kick was taken cleanly on the right wing by Frank Sergent to go over. The effort was converted again by Regan to reduce the advantage to 16-12.

Wigan responded quickly as Austin Daniel, who was denied early in the tie, crashed over on the right edge just after the hour mark. The Warriors went through hands in some flowing attacking play to see the winger dive over in the corner to take an eight-point lead into the final quarter, with Farrimond unable to convert this time.

With a Grand Final tie at stake, Warrington weren’t to be outdone that easily as they responded almost instantaneously. Awarded a scrum 25m out, a pass out wide found Daniel Regan to round the defence and get the ball down on the left edge. The touchline conversion was missed, however, as Wigan held a 20-16 lead entering the final stages.

A high tackle on Finlay Yeomans in the dying minutes gave Jack Farrimond the opportunity to extend the lead, which he did from the tee to put Wigan out to 22-16.

The Warriors saw out the game from there, confirming a win and a place in the Academy Grand Final where they will face the winner of St Helens v Hull FC who face off on Monday evening.

Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Austin Daniel, Finlay Yeomans, Nathan Lowe, Josh Cartwright, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Jack Purtill, Kian McDermott, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Lukas Mason, Leo Wadsworth.

Interchange: Jaiden Drachenberg, Harlen Smith, Kalum Rathbone, Shea O’Connor.

18th Player: Reece Rowcroft

Tries: Farrimond (21′), Cartwright (44′), Daniel (61′)

Goals: Farrimond 5/6

Warrington Wolves: Zack Gardner, Frank Sergent, James Duffy, Arron Lindop, Lachlan Webster, Pat Irwin, Daniel Regan, Charlie McKler, Oliver Morgan, Tom McKinney, Charlie Walker, James McGuire, Isaac Reid.

Interchange: Joe Hickey, Alfie Mather, Jake Ramsden, Kian Stanton.

18th Player: Flynn Holden.

Tries: Duffy (3′), Sergent (57′), Regan (64′)

Goals: Regan 2/3

Sin Bin: Stanton (50′)