Wheelchair lose to Panthers

[josie andrews]

Match Report as Wigan Warriors Wheelchair lose to Halifax Panthers.

England trio Declan Roberts, Adam Rigby and Martin Norris were the scorers on Sunday afternoon.

FT | Halifax Panthers 38-22 Wigan Warriors.

A stalemate at the half time break was the result of a fierce match up between the two sides, but it was the Panthers who won the arm wrestle to take away the two points on Sunday afternoon.

A trip to Sedbergh Sports Centre in Bradford was the destination for the penultimate league game of the season as Halifax Panthers hosted Wigan Warriors, with both teams vying for a top 2 spot that would guarantee them a Home tie in the play offs.

It was the Warriors who opened the scoring with Declan Roberts slotting over a penalty early on, before following up with a try close to the posts. Another successful kick from the tee gave Wigan an 8-0 lead.

The Panthers brought in Jeremy Bourson and Seb Bachera from Catalan Dragons to bolster their squad, and it was Bourson who was on hand to hit back for the Home side. With a wrap-around play, Bourson was able to get outside the last Wigan defender and touchdown in the left corner. Adding the extras, Rob Hawkins narrowed the gap to just 2 points.

The game was as tense as it could possibly be, the defences were holding firm and both teams were finding it tough to make any inroads. A couple of disallowed tries were as close as Wigan came during the middle part of the first half.

Heading towards the break, Wayne Boardman was able to get away down the left flank and score. Despite some debate over the grounding, the referee awarded the try. Hawkins then missed the conversion to leave Halifax 2 points up.

Back on the attack, Wigan earned a penalty bang in front of the posts with only minutes left on the clock, an opportunity too good to turn down for Declan Roberts who tied the scores at 10-10 going into the break with the successful kick.

Starting the half brightly, Tom Martin was on the end of a Fax’ passing move that gave them an overlap and another try, quickly followed by a try from Seb Bachera under the sticks. Converting both tries, Hawkins put his side 22-10 in front.

Wigan came back with two tries of our own. Firstly, Matt Wooloff was able to put Adam Rigby in at the right corner, before Martin Norris was on hand to score the third Wigan try on the hour mark. As consistent as ever, Roberts was able to hit the mark with both conversions and tie the scores at 22 apiece.

In between the two Wigan tries, Halifax player Wayne Boardman was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for pulling back the chair of Martin Norris. Despite the extra man, the Warriors struggled to take advantage, some mistimed passes and poor communication leading to a turnover of possession. With Fax consolidating their position until they were back to the full compliment, it was anyones guess which way the game would go.

Halifax made the first move and regained the lead, Rob Hawkins scoring a converted try in the left corner. Backing that up, Tom Martin was able to cross for his second of the afternoon in the opposite corner.

The final word went to Halifax and Hawkins, with the England international also completing his brace with a sprint down the left flank. Despite a missed conversion, the final score was now 38-22 in favour of the Panthers.

Halifax Panthers: Wayne Boardman, Seb Bachera, Tom Green, Rob Hawkins, Thomas Martin

Interchanges: Julio Acevedo, Nathan Mulhall, Jeremy Bourson, Nathan Holmes, Coral Batey

Tries: Bourson, Boardman, Martin (2), Bachera, Hawkins (2)

Goals: Hawkins 5/7

Sin Bin: Wayne Boardman.

Wigan Warriors: Chris Greenhalgh, Jack Heggie, Declan Roberts, Adam Rigby, Phil Roberts.

Interchanges: Reece Duddle, Martin Norris, Nathan Roberts, Mark Williams, Matt Wooloff.

Tries: D. Roberts, Rigby, Norris.

Goals: D. Roberts 5/5

Wigan Warriors host Leeds Rhinos on Saturday 3rd September at Robin Park Sports Centre. This will be the final league game of the season, we will then head into the playoffs on 17th September with the Grand Final scheduled for October 1st.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2022/08/ ... -panthers/