Warriors seal second place
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:11 am
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
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