Wheelchair Reserves defeat Leeds
Wigan Warriors Wheelchair Reserves scored nine tries to defeat Leeds Rhinos Reserves 46-12 at the Edge.
The Warriors came out firing as Dan Dutson completed a first half hat-trick to help Wigan establish a 26-4 lead at the break.
Dutson took his match total to five in the second half as further tries from Mel Griffiths and Chris Greenhalgh sealed an impressive Warriors win.
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After a month without a fixture, our Wheelchair Reserves returned to action with a trip across the Pennines to face Leeds Rhinos.
It was a bright start for the Warriors as Reece Duddle opened the scoring after Greenhalgh’s cut out pass gave him room in the left corner. Greenhalgh added the extras for a 6-0 lead.
Having set up one try, Greenhalgh was on hand once more to supply Griffiths with a looped pass before he sent a deep kick from within his own half which was chased down and collected by Dutson to score. With one successful conversion from the two tries, Wigan led 16-0 up within 10 minutes.
Dutson doubled his tally when he breezed through a gap for try number four, and despite Leeds hitting back with a score of their own, Dutson completed his hat-trick when he showed pace down the right flank to outstrip the defenders. Greenhalgh added the conversion on the half time whistle to make the score 26-4 at the break.
With numerous tries and assists in the first half, Greenhalgh and Dutson combined once more when an audacious pass from the former released the latter in the left corner.
Despite being outplayed, the Rhinos added to their score with back-to-back tries. The first came straight from the restart, with the second a speedy effort after some close quarter handling in front of the Wigan defensive line. As both kicks were missed, the score remained 32-12 with 20 minutes to go.
Playing in only her second fixture for the Cherry and Whites, Griffiths was able to showcase her pace when she sprinted down the left wing for he second of the afternoon. The conversion attempt from Oliver Steele came up just short.
Dutson scored his fifth of the contest in the 49th minute, before Greenhalgh sealed the win with a try of his own when he rolled through a gap in the Leeds defence. Having scored the first points of the game, it was fitting that Duddle converted the try to make the final score 46-12 to Wigan.
Wigan Warriors: Chris Greenhalgh, Reece Duddle, Mel Griffiths, Dan Dutson, Harry Heggie.
Interchanges: Riley Lannon, Oliver Steele, Leila Hamrang, Daniel Slobin, Jordan Burns.
Tries: Duddle, Griffiths (x2), Dutson (x5), Greenhalgh.
Goals: Greenhalgh (4/6), Dutson (0/1), Steele (0/1), Duddle (1/1).
