V Wakey

[DaveO]

We certainly made hard work of it v 12 men and the defense down the middle was poor for two of their tries.

I thought the ref got worse as the game wore on and I reckon toward the end we were denied a try a video ref would have easily given. I also think he may have copped out on sending a second player off for an attack on Burke that was very late probably because he'd already sent one off.

Hughes in the centres, Thronley on the wing ad Tuscon off early gives an indication of how we lined up. Smith got subbed at one point and at times the side had a distinctly odd look about it.

Some of their scores came directly from Wigan mistakes that led to penalties.

I think we always had too much for them on attack partly down to having 12 men but I'd imagine Wane will be annoyed at the defense.

All in all grateful for the two points but it was a poor game.

[cpwigan]

One positive re Sam. His banadaging around the thigh did not seem to be there and he looked to be running far better. Lee Smith was/is no slouch and he was able to out sprint him with a start.

Re; defence. On Mellors it was a very poor effort and he was not exactly going full on for grubber fields at times. Oddly though he went up fearlessly for a couple of catches of high kicks. Re tackling, whether he can still do it v big pros; Sam before his growth spurt was even smaller but he had perfected an excellent cumberland throw in the junior ranks.

[Owd Codger]

Considering we had three centre's and a second row in the three quarter line, Richards missing, a even lower average age due to more experienced player's being injured, we did struggle a bit but unlike last season, we stuck at it and got two points.

Plus the fact that Wakefield are a dogged team to beat.

[josie andrews]

Josie - you had words with me and WW about postings - look at the previous one - perhaps that is why we do it. Regards.

WTF are you on about??

Get off my bloody case :exc:

[josie andrews]

Re; defence. On Mellors it was a very poor effort and he was not exactly going full on for grubber fields at times. Oddly though he went up fearlessly for a couple of catches of high kicks. Re tackling, whether he can still do it v big pros; Sam before his growth spurt was even smaller but he had perfected an excellent cumberland throw in the junior ranks.

cp, who is Mellors?

[josie andrews]

Iestyn Reflects on Wakefield Win

Wigan Warriors ran out 44-24 winners in a nine try display against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.

Sam Tomkins grabbed a hat-trick as the Warriors made it four wins in a row either side of the Easter break.

The Wildcats played most of the game with 12 men following the sending off of Justin Poore for punching early in the match.

Speaking post match Wigan Assistant Coach Iestn Harris said,

"I don't think we were great defensively today.I don't think there was too much energy in the game and it wasn't our best performance. We came into the Easter period with a mini target over the four games and we have come out of it with 8 points so with a 100% record and we are very happy with that. There were some areas today we need to work on but it is a long season and we will work on those.

"We spoke in the week that Wakefield are a good side with some good players and I thought they made the game very slow around the ruck and we could have done a bit more to quicken the game up which we didn't do. At no point did we feel comfortable that this game was done and dusted. When they went down to 12 men it probably changed the dynamics of the game, they picked up their intensity and we dropped ours.We are a little bit disappointed with our performance today but happy with the eight points."

On Sam Tomkins hat-trick, Iestyn added,

"He is a competitor, a brilliant player and some of the things he did today were outstanding. You look at the flair and the excellence but also it's the other things he does, he twists out of tackles and his desire to play the ball quickly which allows the team to go forward he does that consistently. He is a brilliant player."

http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news

[josie andrews]

Wigan Defeat 12 Man Wildcats

Wigan Warriors 44

T - Thornley 2, Gelling 2, S Tomkins 3, Goulding, Farrell

G - Smith 4/8, Powell 0/1

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 24

12 minutes Justin Poore Sent Off

T - Mellars, Mathers, Smith, Aiton

G - Sykes 4/4

Wigan Warriors recorded their fourth Super League win in a row to move back to the top of the table following a 44-24 success over the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at the DW Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Wigan ran in nine tries with a hat-trick for Sam Tomkins while Anthony Gelling and Iain Thornley grabbed a brace.
Wigan went into a 10-0 lead before Wildcats Poore was shown a red card which seemed to inspire the visitors who hit back with a couple of tries. Wigan then stepped up a gear and were always in the ascendancy and by half time were well in command of the game.

Wigan were without Skipper Sean O'Loughlin (back) and Winger Josh Charnley (ankle) who both failed fitness tests on Friday and Pat Richards also missed out following a delayed arrival back in the UK after attending his Brother's wedding in Australia. Iain Thornley switched from centre to wing and Anthony Gelling made his first start since March after recovering from a leg injury. The Wildcats included three former Warriors in their seventeen with Richard Mathers, Tim Smith and Oliver Wilkes all starting.

It took the Warriors just over a minute to open the scoring after a deep kick off was not dealt with by the Wildcats and Wigan won head and feed at the scrum. The home side quickly moved the ball out to the right and Sam Tomkins put Iain Thornley through a gap to score the try. Matty Smith missed the conversion, 4-0.

The Warriors were in again on 7 minutes, this time down the left hand side, Sam Tomkins again the provider with the pass that split the Wakefield defence and Anthony Gelling crashed in at the corner, this time Smith added the goal, 10-0.

The visitors were reduced to 12 men on 12 minutes when Justin Poore was shown red for punching which led to set to in the middle of the park and the task for Richard Agar's side had become even more testing.

Wakefield responded and hit back on 17 minutes; Vince Mellars evading a couple of Wigan tackles to stride in under the posts. Paul Sykes hit an easy conversion to make it 10-6.

Within 60 seconds the Wildcats were in again Paul Aiton through a gap and his pass touched a Wigan hand to allow Richard Mathers to pick up the loose ball for the Wildcats second try of the game. Sykes made it two from two the Wigan were behind 10-12.

It needed a response from Wigan and it came on 23 minutes, the home side moving the ball sharply to the right and Iain Thornley was in for his second try of the game, Smith missed the goal, 14-12.

A try from Sam Tomkins soon followed as he darted through the Wildcats defence; his 11th try of the season, this time in front of the posts Matty Smith hit the extras 20-12.

Wigan were on a roll as Wakefield were again split down the right, Darrell Goulding with Wigan's fifth try of the half out wide. Smith's conversion hit the posts and over and the Warriors had a 14 point advantage, 26-12.

With seven minutes of the half a Blake Green pass sent Liam Farrell through a gap on the left and the Second Rower had the pace to beat Mathers to the corner for the try, Smith missed a difficult goal but Wigan had exerted their authority on the game, 30-12 and that's the way it stayed until the break.

Wigan added to their score with just a couple of minutes of the second half, against the 12 men quick hands to the left and Anthony Gelling was in for his second try of the match, Smith missed the goal from the touchline, 34-12.

Sam Tomkins ghosted in for his second try on 52 minutes, stepping inside the Wakefield defence for the score, this time Sam Powell with the attempted conversion which went wide, 38-12.

Lee Smith managed to touchdown for Wakefield's third try of the game mid-way through the half which Sykes added the goal to, 38-18.

Credit to the Wildcats for keeping going and their endeavours were rewarded as Paul Aiton crossed for the visitors fourth try of the afternoon, Sykes added the extras, 38-24.

Sam Tomkins raced 70 meters to complete his hat-trick with 10 minutes left and Matty Smith converted to make it 44-24 and that is the way the game ended.

So a four game spell in and around Easter which Head Coach Shaun Wane marked as an important period for the side has seen his men come away with the maximum points , next up for Wigan next Sunday a tough trip to Bradford.

Team News

Wigan Warriors -Sam Tomkins, Iain Thornley, Darrell Goulding, Jack Hughes, Anthony Gelling, Blake Green, Matty Smith, Dom Crosby, Michael McIlorum, Ben Flower, Chris Tuson, Liam Farrell, Greg Burke

Replacements - Gil Dudson, Scott Taylor, Sam Powell, Tom Spencer

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats - Richard Mathers, Peter Fox, Dean Collis, Lee Smith, Ben Cockayne, Paul Sykes, Tim Smith, Justin Poore, Paul Aiton, Oliver Wilkes, Chris Annakin, Vince Mellars, Danny Washbrook

Replacements - Andy Raleigh, Kyle Wood, Ali Lauitiiti, Kyle Amor

Referee - R Hicks

http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news

[cpwigan]

Re; defence. On Mellors it was a very poor effort and he was not exactly going full on for grubber fields at times. Oddly though he went up fearlessly for a couple of catches of high kicks. Re tackling, whether he can still do it v big pros; Sam before his growth spurt was even smaller but he had perfected an excellent cumberland throw in the junior ranks.

cp, who is Mellors?

The try scorer for Wakey Josie. They may spell it with an A instead of an O.

[Kittwazzer]

Re; defence. On Mellors it was a very poor effort and he was not exactly going full on for grubber fields at times. Oddly though he went up fearlessly for a couple of catches of high kicks. Re tackling, whether he can still do it v big pros; Sam before his growth spurt was even smaller but he had perfected an excellent cumberland throw in the junior ranks.

cp, who is Mellors?

The try scorer for Wakey Josie. They may spell it with an A instead of an O.

You'll have to excuse her CP. Soon as she saw that name she went straight into Lady Chatterley mode! :badg:

[TrueBlueWarrior]

Vince Mellars