Super League: Warrington Wolves 22-40 Wigan Warriors - Visitors seal first win at Wire since 2017
- Published
Bevan French scored his third try of the season in Wigan's win at Warrington
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Warrington (10) 22 |
Tries: Dean, Ashton, Walker, Mata'utia Goals: Thewlis, Mata'utia, Dean |
Wigan (24) 40 |
Tries: Thornley 2, French, Farrell, Marshall 2, Havard Goals: Smith 6 |
Wigan Warriors stormed to a derby victory against Warrington to stay level on points with leaders St Helens.
Iain Thornley crossed for Wigan either side of Riley Dean's opener for the hosts, but Bevan French responded.
Matty Ashton dived in at the corner as the Wire hit back, but Liam Farrell went over just before the break.
Liam Marshall scored twice in two minutes for Wigan and Ethan Havard added to their tally before Danny Walker and Peter Mata'utia replied.
Wigan's win was their first at the Halliwell Jones Stadium since their narrow Challenge Cup quarter-final victory in 2017 and keeps them level with leaders St Helens, who beat Salford and still top the table courtesy of their superior points difference.
Seventh-placed Warrington, on the other hand, were defeated for the sixth time in Super League this season.
Thornley, who has missed much of the season due to injury after returning to the Cherry and Whites, scored two tries down the right inside the opening quarter-hour.
French then cored his third try of the season thanks to a fabulous last-ditch Jai Field offload following another drive down the right from the visitors.
In an entertaining first half, Ashton's acrobatic response for Warrington was matched by Farrell dancing his way through a crowded Wire backline to further extend their lead at the hooter.
Marshall's quickfire try for Wigan after the break came after a Warrington defensive mix-up from Josh Thewlis who failed to pick up French's grubber-kick.
Warrington's task was made harder when, with a 24-point deficit to Wigan, they had Daryl Clark sent to the bin for holding down.
And Wigan made their advantage count when French ran unopposed to the halfway after collecting possession inside his own in-goal area and sent Havard away.
Warrington Wolves head coach Daryl Powell:
"It's topsy turvy at the moment. We started so poorly, six again in the first set, and the first try was a really poor one to concede one side of the field to the other.
"That sort of set the stall out. We consistently lost the ruck area. They had way more punch than us and got the ball on the floor and, as a result, dictated the pace of the game.
"We battled hard to the end but we got rattled and we can't quite get our game either side of the ball. Easter has been particularly tough."
Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:
"You've got to be pleased when you win a game like that, comfortably, because it was a massive challenge. They're a team looking to find form, who got a good result last week against Huddersfield.
"I knew they were particularly motivated having not got a game for a few weeks. They've got a class team and a good coaching staff.
"We were coming into what we expected to be a two or four-point game, to be honest. We had to get to terms with some of the things they were doing and, when we did that, we were the better team."
Warrington: Thewlis, Charnley, Mata'utia, King, Ashton, Dean, Williams, Mulhern, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Holmes, Magoulias.
Interchanges: Philbin, J Clark, Bullock, Walker.
Sin bin: D Clark (53).
Wigan: Field, French, Thornley, Bibby, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Singleton, O'Neil, Ellis, Farrell, Bateman, Smithies.
Interchanges: Mago, Havard, Byrne, Halsall.
Referee: Rob Hicks.