Warrington put in strong display to edge past Wigan
Warrington beat Wigan to claim their second win of the campaign.
Shaun Wane made one change to his Wigan side that beat Hull FC in the first Super League game outside of Europe two weeks ago. John Bateman returned and replaced Dan Sarginson in the centres.
Steve Price made three changes to his side that won at local rivals Widnes Vikings last week. Tyrone Roberts returned from injury to replace Morgan Smith while Sitaleki Akauola and Mitch Brown came in to the squad. Joe Philbin and Matty Russell dropped out.
Warrington took the lead inside two minutes. Roberts was taken out late by Tony Clubb and the Wolves opted to take the two, with Bryson Goodwin adding the penalty goal from in front of the sticks, giving his side a 2-0 lead.
The hosts had numbers on the left side and stretched the Wigan defence by passing it along the line to Tom Lineham who dived over out wide. Goodwin’s boot took the score to 8-0.
England star Ben Currie left the field in the 17th minute with a leg injury and did not return.
After the frantic first ten minutes, Wigan started to come back into the game and George Williams troubled the Warrington defence but the Wolves managed to keep him out.
Ryan Atkins will probably not have an easier chance to score this season than what he had in the 39th minute. All he had to do was catch Ben Murdoch-Masila’s offload and he was over but he knocked-on just inches away from the line. The Wolves went into the sheds 8-0 to the good.
Warrington had an effort chalked off shortly after the restart. Atkins touched down following a break from Roberts but Murdoch-Masila knocked the ball forward earlier in the play.
Price’s side did extend their lead in the 48th minute though. Sam Tomkins was caught interfering at the play-the-ball and Goodwin added the penalty goal, Warrington 10-0 Wigan.
Bateman gave away a penalty but Goodwin failed to add the penalty goal. Warrington still led 10-0 after 53 minutes.
Atkins got his deserved try on the hour mark. Wigan failed to deal with Kevin Brown’s kick and Atkins pounced on a loose ball to score. The conversion was on point and the home side were 16-0 ahead.
Liam Marshall scored Wigan’s first try of the game in the 62nd minute. The ball went through quick hands to the young winger who finished nicely in the corner. Sam Tomkins couldn’t convert but Warrington were still in a 12-point advantage.
Clubb barged over the line for the Warriors with just seconds to spare. The conversion was added but the late effort wasn’t enough as Warrington ran-out 16-10 winners at a freezing cold Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Warrington: 1 Ratchford; 2 Lineham, 3 Goodwin, 4 Atkins, 21 Brown; 6 Brown, 7 Roberts; 8 Hill, 9 Clark, 10 Cooper; 11 Currie, 12 Hughes; 34 Westwood. Subs: 13 Murdoch-Masila, 14 Crosby, 16 Akauola, 15 Patton.
Wigan: 1 S Tomkins; 2 Davies, 14 Bateman, 4 Gildart, 22 Marshall; 6 Williams, 7 Powell; 8 Clubb, 9 Leuluai, 10 Flower; 11 J Tomkins, 12 Farrell; 13 O’Loughlin. 20 Escaré, 15 Sutton, 19 Isa, 17 Tautai.
Starman: Stefan Ratchford
Attendance: 12,012