Reserves beat Giants in season opener
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Reserves beat Huddersfield Giants on the road in their 2025 season opener.
- Taylor Kerr scored four of six Wigan tries in the win at Laund Hill.
- FT | Huddersfield Giants 4-36 Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Warriors Reserves opened their 2025 season with a comfortable victory over Huddersfield Giants at Laund Hill.
A strong opening 40 from the Warriors saw Josh Cartwright cross in between two Taylor Kerr tries for an 18-0 at the break.
Kerr added a further two tries after the restart as Finlay Yeomans completed the victory with Jack Farrimond and Nathan Lowe maintaining a perfect record from the tee on Saturday afternoon.
Report
After an evenly contested opening 15 minutes, the Warriors took the lead off the back of a Huddersfield handling error. An excellent one-two between Harvey Makin and Taylor Kerr saw the latter dummy his way through a gap to score with Jack Farrimond adding the extras.
Huddersfield were penalised for holding down from the restart as the Warriors began their attacking set 40m out. Quick hands on the left edge from Tom Ratchford and Noah Hodkinson allowed Josh Cartwright to add a second score. Farrimond was successful from the tee to put Wigan 12-0 ahead with 21 minutes on the clock.
Strong defence on their line from the Warriors denied Huddersfield points as the host’s conceded a penalty to allow Wigan to gain attacking metres. Following a strong carry from Makin, Kerr burst through four Huddersfield defenders to double his points total as Farrimond slotted two more points for an 18-0 lead at the break.
Farrimond’s intercept saw the half-back make more than 80m being before halted by the chasing Huddersfield defence. A strong piece of play from Kerr at the play the ball saw the loose forward wrestle through to complete his hat-trick as Farrimond added the extras.
The Warriors defended firmly to keep three Huddersfield attacks out, however, a sustained period of pressure resulted in the Giants cutting the points difference just after the hour. An attack down the left edge saw a neat offload fall to Wallis to score in the corner with the following kick unsuccessful.
A Huddersfield handling error returned possession to the Warriors as Jacob Douglas almost found a way through after cutting in from the right wing. Jack Purtill found Kerr from play the ball, who powered away from two tacklers to ground his fourth. Farrimond kicked the extras for a 30-4 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
The Warriors added a sixth try in the closing minutes when Kerr picked out the supporting Yeomans, who accelerated away from the covering Huddersfield players to ground. Nathan Lowe added two additional points to give the Warriors a 36-4 victory in West Yorkshire.
Huddersfield Giants: George Flanagan, Elliot Wallis, Darius Carter, Connor Carr, Beau Morrison, Leo Ward, Charlie Land, Jack Bibby, Monty Lumb, Jack Billington, Max Merta, Archie Sykes, Jacob Algar.
Interchanges: Logan Blacker, Zach Brown, Noah Broadbent, Thomas Hardy
18th Player: Sam Beety.
Tries: Wallis (63′).
Goals: Ward (0/1).
Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Jacob Douglas, Nathan Lowe, Finlay Yeomans, Josh Cartwright, Tom Ratchford, Jack Farrimond, Harvey Makin, Kalum Rathbone, Kian McDermott, George O’Loughlin, Lukas Mason, Taylor Kerr.
Interchanges: Jack Purtill, Austin Daniel, Harlen Smith, Leo Wadsworth.
18th Player: Mike Porter.
Tries: Kerr (16′, 27′, 45′, 70′), Cartwright (20′), Yeomans (75′).
Goals: Farrimond (5/5), Lowe (1/1).
