Warriors seal second place

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josie andrews
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Warriors seal second place

Post by josie andrews »

Match report as Wigan Warriors beat Castleford Tigers 26-8 at the DW Stadium.

Victory secures second spot for the Warriors in the Betfred Super League table.

Morgan Smithies scores his first senior try for the club.

Wigan Warriors secured second spot in the Betfred Super League table with a 26-8 victory over Castleford Tigers at the DW Stadium.

After heading into half time only two points ahead, Adrian Lam’s put in an improved second half performance to secure two points.

The victory ensures that the Warriors will host a home tie in the first round of the playoffs next week, as they look to continue their current good form.

One of the scorers for the Wigan was Morgan Smithies, who went over in the final minutes for his first senior try for the club.

Castleford’s endeavours were not helped by Jesse Sene-Lefao red card, for a poor challenge.

Nine minutes into the game, Jamie Ellis edged the Tigers ahead 2-0, after successfully converting a penalty, given against Wigan for failing to clear the ruck 11 metres from their try line.

Not long after, the visitors nearly got their first try, as Jake Trueman nearly found a way through the Warriors defence.

As the opening quarter went on, Wigan continued to offer Daryl Powell’s side opportunities with a few mislaid passes.

Then in the 16th minute, the Warriors got the first try of the evening, as George Williams danced superbly past the Castleford defence to dive over and make it 4-2.

Zak Hardaker was unable to add the extras, as he dragged his conversion wide.

The Tigers came close to going over, after Trueman’s grubber kick hit the inside of the post and nearly bounced back into the hands of a teammate but for a Hardaker’s great defensive effort to put the ball out.

The visitors had a chance to level things after being awarded another penalty, but Ellis was unable to successfully convert.

Wigan also had an opportunity to get more points on the board, as Bevan French was just unable to get to a Hardaker grubber kick, with the Tigers defence grabbing the ball.

With a minute left on the clock before the break, Ellis passed up another opportunity to equalise, after missing another penalty, which was given for a high tackle from Romain Navarrete.

Four minutes after the break, Hardaker extended Wigan’s lead, after his own grubber kick ended up back in his hands for an easy try, with Greg Minikin knocking the ball into his path after failing to pick it up.

The fullback then successfully converted his own try to make it 10-2.

Three minutes later, Joe Greenwood added a third try of the evening for Lam’s side, forcing his way through a gap in the defence to ground and make it 14-2.

The Tigers then began to put pressure on the Wigan line, as they tried to fight back.

In the 62nd minute, Wigan strengthened their lead further, as Oliver Gildart cut back inside from the left to force his way past the Castleford defenders.

The Tigers chances of getting back into the game took a bigger hit when Jesse Sene-Lefao was sent off for a terrible challenge on Oliver Partington.

From the subsequent penalty, Hardaker added another two to make it 20-2.

With two minutes remaining, Morgan Smithies added another for the Warriors, as the space opened for him to go over for his first try for the club.

Hardaker added the extras to make it 26-2.

Then a minute later, the fullback made a defensive error to allow Cheyse Blair in for a consolation try.

Ellis was able to add the extras as the game ended 26-8.

Victory secures Wigan’s second place finish and sees them host a home tie in the first game of the playoffs.

Wigan Warriors: Zak Hardaker, Bevan French, Dan Sarginson, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, George Williams, Thomas Leuluai, Tony Clubb, Sam Powell, Oliver Partington, Willie Isa, Joe Greenwood, Morgan Smithies.

Interchanges: Liam Byrne, Romain Navarrete, Ben Flower, Sean O’Loughlin.

Tries: Williams (16’), Hardaker (44’), Greenwood (47’), Gildart (62’), Smithies (78’)

Conversions: Hardaker (2/5)

Penalties: Hardaker (1/1)

Castleford Tigers: Jordan Rankin, James Clare, Peter Mata’utia, Cheyse Blair, Greg Minikin, Jake Trueman, Jamie Ellis, Liam Watts, Paul McShane, Grant Millington, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Mike McMeeken, Nathan Massey.

Interchanges: Oliver Holmes, Matt Cook, Chris Clarkson, Daniel Smith.

Tries: Blair (79’)

Conversions: Ellis (1/1)

Penalties: Ellis (1/3)

Red Card: Sene-Lefao (65’)

Referee: J. Child Touch Judges: C. Sharrad, G. Dolan Video Ref: B. Thaler

Attendance: 11,001


https://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2019 ... UpF5qzc.99
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
josie andrews
Posts: 35575
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
Location: Wigan
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Re: Warriors seal second place

Post by josie andrews »

Really happy: Lam

Adrian Lam expressed his delight at securing second spot in the table

Praises his players in the 26-8 win over Castleford Tigers at the DW Stadium

The win gives Wigan the home advantage in the play-offs

Adrian Lam’s side cemented their second place spot with a 26-8 victory of Castleford Tigers on Friday night.


George Williams scored the only try of the first half as Wigan went in at the break with a narrow 4-2 lead. Scores from Zak Hardaker, Joe Greenwood, Oliver Gildart and a first senior try for Morgan Smithies sealed the win for the Warriors, who will have the home advantage in the play-offs.

Speaking to the press, Lam said: “I’m really happy to have secured second place. Earlier in the week I was looking back at the season and had we slipped up once along the way, tonight’s game could’ve meant potentially missing out if we didn’t perform.

image: https://www.wiganwarriors.com/admin/res ... -w1600.jpg
Lam celebrating the win with the home crowd after the full-time whistle.

The last three or four months have been a tightrope. It’s just real credit to the players, the amount of pressure they have been under to perform through that part has put us in good stead at the end of the season.”

Ollie Partington played a pivotal role in the victory, as Morgan Smithies crashed over for his first senior try. Lam praised his young options: “They have come in, maybe a little earlier than I would have liked but they keep turning up each week. I love the way they play, as a player I like playing with those players that are aggressive and tough.”

He added: “They’ve got a lot of improving to do, Morgan Smithies hasn’t even had an off season. We’ve just got to make sure they keep their feet grounded, they’re working well at the moment but they’ve got to be better and part of them playing a role in the future is to make sure they keep their head above water.”

image: https://www.wiganwarriors.com/admin/res ... -w1600.jpg
Smithies celebrates his first try for Wigan with his teammates


Summarising his thoughts on the evening, the Head Coach said: “At the moment I’ve empowered the players to take a little bit more responsibility at this part of the year. It wasn’t ideal with the short turnaround last week, I think Castleford had a day on us, that was always a concern but I knew that if we could get through this in good shape, the benefit would be an extra day off next week.

We had to just believe in what we do, and we’ll just keep doing that. The players are just honest with each other at the moment, honest on their expectations from each other and that’s pleasing. There isn’t much to change there.”


https://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2019 ... 1A3X9A9.99
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
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