Warriors clinch League Leaders’ Shield

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors defeat Salford Red Devils to secure the 2024 Betfred Super League Leaders’ Shield.
• Matt Peet’s side scored 11 tries on their way to victory, with a Jai Field hat-trick in amongst six different scorers in Cherry and White.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 64-0 Salford Red Devils.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors take victory against Salford Red Devils.

The Warriors ran in 11 tries to secure the League Leaders’ Shield in emphatic fashion, as they beat Salford Red Devils in front of over 15,000 at The Brick Community Stadium.

Jake Wardle and Zach Eckersley both grabbed one try each, as Kruise Leeming, Bevan French and Liam Marshall – who crossed for a 150th Wigan try – each scored twice. Jai Field completed a hat-trick to surpass 200 points in a Warriors’ shirt, as Ethan Havard made his 100th career appearance.

Report

The Warriors controlled the opening exchanges and would reap the rewards for their early possession, as Nathan Connell was put under immediate pressure from Wigan’s left flank upon catching a high kick from Harry Smith, which saw him forced into touch five metres out from his own try-line to present a big opportunity for the Cherry and Whites.

With the resulting set, Mat Peet’s side worked the ball well from right to left to create an opening on the left wing, where Jai Field played a perfect cut-out pass to Liam Marshall, who was quick enough to beat his man to the corner and open the scoring. Adam Keighran’s conversion from right on the touchline was good.

Continuing to apply the pressure on the visitors, the Warriors would score again in quick succession just five minutes later. Kruise Leeming made his way along the Salford line before passing off to Bevan French, who was able to play in Field to jog towards the right corner and extend his side’s advantage. Keighran converted once again from out wide to make it 12-0.

The Warriors looked like scoring with every possession against a young Red Devils line-up, with Zach Eckersley coming agonisingly close to capitalising on a grubber kick from French, which refused to bounce favourably for the 20-year-old. The pair would eventually combine for the score, however, as they played a one-two down Eckersley’s right flank to see French glide in and score under the posts, where Keighran knocked through a simple conversion.

As a failed short goal-line dropout saw the Warriors granted a scrum 10 metres out, Eckersley would grab a try of his own, with Smith’s lopping ball from half-back finding him in acres of space on the right wing to score his side’s fourth of the night. Keighran’s perfect record from the tee came to an end as his attempted conversion flew just wide.

With 15 minutes to go in the first half, the away side would have their first opportunity of the night to post points, as Smith was adjudged to have stepped in touch after catching Salford’s kick off. Despite testing Eckersley’s wing to force a goal-line dropout with their first set, a wayward pass from former Warrior Cade Cust bounced behind his intended target, where Jake Wardle was ready and waiting to gather the ball and take it the distance for the score. Keighran’s kick from in front of the posts was good.

Despite repeat sets presenting a late opportunity for the visitors to score before the half’s end, the Warriors stood firm in defence – first holding up one attacker before pushing another into touch – to maintain a 28-0 lead going into the break. They would come close to extending that advantage a minute before the hooter, but Field’s unselfish grubber kick intended for Wardle was kicked away by Chris Atkin.

The Cherry and Whites would come out firing on their opening set to score and give little hope of any Salford comeback efforts. Patrick Mago made healthy metres on the ground to take his side deep into away territory, where an excellently worked move found Field on the left-hand-side to stroll in for his second try of the night. Keighran resumed where he had left off from the tee.

Despite their advantage, there were several occasions where points were left on the field by the Warriors, with huge holes continuing to open up in the Salford defence. Tyler Dupree was one of a few in Cherry and White who would’ve wanted a scoring opportunity back, as he was unable to play in either of his teammates on his shoulder.

While the affair had begun to grow in frustration for the Wigan supporters with a few missed opportunities by their side, an off-the-ball scuffle between Liam Byrne and Adam Sidlow would raise the intensity immediately. Mago so nearly powered through a number of Salford bodies to touch down, but he was held just short.

The Red Devils would take the ball themselves into a threatening position, but their commitment of bodies forward would be punished by Marshall, who gathered a loose pass and outran the chasing defenders to score his 150th try for the club. With almost no time for Paul Rowley’s side to catch their breath, the Warriors would score again in quick succession. A kick inside from Eckersley was caught by Keighran to play in Leeming for the score, as Keighran converted both tries.

Following a couple of repeat sets gone to waste for Salford, the Warriors would march up the field to hit 50 on the night. With a penalty taking Matt Peet’s side over half-way, Leeming moved the ball well from dummy-half to find French. He scurried out of a tackle to play it back inside to the hooker, who crashed over for his second try of the night, with Keighran good for an eighth time from the tee.

To well and truly put the cherry on top of the League Leaders’ cake, a 10th try was scored by Wigan. Junior Nsemba used his pace to break down the left flank before passing inside to Field, who completed a well-deserved hat-trick. Leeming came close to matching Field’s feat, but play was stopped for a forward pass before he could cross over.

With the celebrations itching to begin, the Warriors would squeeze in one more try before the hooter. Space opened up on the left flank for French, who effortlessly ran in for his second try of the night with a minute to go, which Keighran would convert.

The victory saw the Warriors win the Betfred Super League Leaders’ Shield in style, with a final score of 64-0.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Zach Eckersley, 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, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Tom Forber.

18th Player: Sam Walters.

Tries: Marshall (6′, 58′), Field (11′, 42′, 72′), French (18′, 79′), Eckersley (22′), Wardle (28′), Leeming (61′, 70′).

Goals: Keighran (10/11).

Salford Red Devils: Chris Atkin, Ethan Fitzgerald, Billy Glover, Josh Wagstaffe, Nathan Connell, Cade Cust, Kai Morgan, Jack Ormondroyd, Amir Bourouh, Adam Sidlow, Ben Hellewell, Charlie McCurrie, Harvey Wilson.

Interchange: James Pye, Charlie Glover, Leunbou Barydel-Wells, Jack Gatcliffe.

18th Player: Joe Bullock.

Attendance: 15,589.

Referee: Chris Kendall