Warriors beat Oldham in pre-season

[josie andrews]

* Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against Oldham in pre-season at Boundary Park.

* Wigan scored six tries in the pre-season outing

* FT | Oldham 16-28 Wigan Warriors.

MATCH REPORT AS WIGAN WARRIORS START THEIR PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE WITH VICTORY OVER OLDHAM AT BOUNDARY PARK.

It was a comfortable first half for the Warriors, led by Thomas Leuluai on Sunday afternoon as they ran in three tries in the opening 10 minutes through Tyler Dupree, Jacob Douglas and Liam Byrne. Oldham hit back through former Warrior Iain Thornley, though Wigan responded once more with interchange Tom Forber going over to see Wigan in at half-time with a 20-6 lead.

Logan Astley opened the second half scoring for Roughyeds but Wigan cut the deficit once more through Josh Cartwight and Finlay Yeomans. Jay Chapelhow finished off the afternoon with a great try for the hosts but it was Wigan who ran out 28-16 winners in pre-season.

Report

Wigan were handed an immediate opportunity as Jumah Sambou knocked on from Jack Farrimond’s kick-off and the Warriors went close as a cut-out pass saw Noah Hodkinson weave his way towards the goal line but the ball was spilled before the full-back could ground the ball.

Tyler Dupree opened the scoring in the 3rd minute as a perfectly fed grubber through from Kruise Leeming bounced nicely for the forward to collect and dive over against his former side. Zach Eckersley converted the effort for 6-0.

Just a few minutes later Wigan extended their lead as a troublesome bomb from Farrimond was spilled by Dixon for Eckersley to recover the ball before Jacob Douglas received the ball to fly over and make it 10-0 with the conversion missed.

Liam Byrne made it a third score in the opening 10 minutes as he crashed over from close range, receiving a pass close to the goal line from Kruise Leeming. Zach Eckersley knocked over the extras and it was 16-0.

Oldham got their first points on the board on 20 minutes as former Warrior Iain Thornley dived over after an overlap on the right edge created space for the centre. Kieran Dixon added the two, making it 16-6 in Wigan’s favour.

Wigan cut the deficit almost immediately after a triple substitution, with Tom Forber coming onto the field and collecting an offload to clear the defence and score, the Warriors stood at 20-6.

Oldham had their chances as Dixon went over only to be denied by some strong defence from Noah Hodkinson to hold him up. Shortly afterwards Sambou looked to have found space on the right edge but a forward pass in the build-up halted the play to give Wigan the ball back as the Warriors went in at the break with a 20-6 lead.

Oldham got the first points of the second half as another former Warrior, Logan Astley found a way over after being introduced to the action. Riley Dean on kicking duties was off target and it stood 20-10 to the Warriors.

The Warriors extended their lead on 54 minutes as Academy duo Finlay Yeomans and Josh Cartwright linked-up to go over on the left edge, with the conversion missed it was 24-10.

Wigan struck again in the 66th minute as Taylor Kerr sent Finlay Yeomans racing towards the left corner to extend the lead. Zach Eckersley couldn’t add the two from out wide and it was 28-10.

With 10 minutes to play Wigan looked certain to score as Jack Farrimond intercepted a pass on his own 10m and raced away but Mo Agoro was racing back in support and got a try-saving tackle away just before the goal line.

Oldham had the last say of the game as a clever pass from Dean saw Jay Chapelhow burst through the line to score close to the uprights, with Dean converting to make it 28-16, confirming a win in the first pre-season outing for the Warriors.

Oldham: Jack Johnson, Jumah Sambou, Jordan Turner, Iain Thornley, Kieran Dixon, Danny Craven, Josh Drinkwater, Gil Dudson, Matty Wildie, Lewis Baxter, Matty Ashurst, Elijah Taylor, Adam Milner.

Interchange: Logan Astley, Cian Tyrer, Ben O’Keefe, Mo Agoro, Riley Dean, Ted Chapelhow, Jay Chapelhow, Bailey Aldridge, Craig Kopczak, Pat Moran, Owen Farnworth, Ben Forster.

Tries: Thornley (20′), Astley (45′), J.Chapelhow (74′)

Goals: Dixon 1/1, Dean 1/2

Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Jacob Douglas, Zach Eckersley, Nathan Lowe, Josh Cartwright, Jack Farrimond, Taylor Kerr, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dupree, Sam Walters, George Hirst, Harvie Hill.

Interchange: Tom Forber, Tiaki Chan, Harvey Makin, Kian McDermott, Lukas Mason, Finlay Yeomans, Austin Daniel, Sam Eseh.

Tries: Dupree (3′), Douglas (6′), Byrne (10′), Forber (24′), Cartwright (54′), Yeomans (66′)

Goals: Eckersley 2/6

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/01/ ... re-season/

[josie andrews]

Leuluai: Very positive

WIGAN WARRIORS ASSISTANT COACH THOMAS LEULUAI HAS REFLECTED ON THIS AFTERNOON’S PRE-SEASON VICTORY AGAINST OLDHAM.

The Warriors scored first half tries through Tyler Dupree, Jacob Douglas, Liam Byrne and Tom Forber before Academy duo Josh Cartwright and Finlay Yeomans added further points at Boundary Park.

Leuluai, who took charge of the Warriors in the win, said: “Overall it was very positive. We got minutes into a lot of players, the young lads showed a good account of themselves, and we looked sharp. We are happy with it.”

Praising the performance, Leuluai said: “We had players out there who haven’t played together too much but they looked connected. The lads worked hard during the week off the back of a good pre-season, and we’re all glad that we saw them go out and enjoy themselves.”

Speaking on his role at Oldham, Leuluai added: “I took a slightly different job than what I usually take during the week and I enjoyed it. It was nice to be back preparing for a game.”

Leuluai said: “Our S&C team have done a great job as the lads looked fit and ready to go out there. We looked connected in terms of what we want to do, but there’s always areas you can improve on and that’s what we will look at before Leeds. However, we are happy to get the lads out there.”

The Warriors travel to AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium on Sunday 26 January to face Leeds Rhinos in Ash Handley’s Testimonial. Tickets for the game can be purchased online HERE.

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/wiganwarri ... /Index/146

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[josie andrews]

Kerr: Good experience

* Taylor Kerr has reflected on the positives from a first pre-season victory at Oldham.

* Kerr: “It was a good experience that is only going to put me in good stead for the future.”

* Watch highlights and reaction from our friendly against Oldham on Wigan TV HERE.

TAYLOR KERR ENJOYED THE ‘CHALLENGE’ OF PLAYING AT HALF-BACK AS THE WARRIORS BEGAN PRE-SEASON WITH A WIN AT OLDHAM.

Assistant Coach Thomas Leuluai took charge of the Warriors, who scored six tries to defeat the League One champions in the first of two pre-season friendlies on Sunday afternoon.

Reflecting on the victory, Kerr said: “It felt good to be back out there playing. We’ve been in working hard since November so it was nice to finally be able to play together as a team and show how our hard work has paid off.”

On facing Oldham, Kerr added: “It was tough, as expected, because Oldham have good squad and they’ve signed well. It was a good challenge stepping up and playing against men for one of the first times. It was a good experience that is only going to put me in good stead for the future.”

Kerr, who has primarily played at loose forward since signing his first Warriors contract in 2020, started in the halves alongside Jack Farrimond at Boundary Park.

On his role, Kerr said: “I was a half-back as a junior, but I’ve only played there once at Wigan which was in my first year. I was told two weeks ago that I’d be playing in the halves and since then the lads have helped me out. It was a different challenge but I’ll play anywhere – I love playing rugby.”

Kerr, alongside Nathan Lowe, Lukas Mason, Noah Hodkinson and Kian McDermott, signed a full-time contract in September which has seen him prepare for the 2025 season alongside the First Team.

On the step up, Kerr said: “It’s been challenging but that’s only going to make us better as players and individuals. The lads have all been welcoming and coming up with other Academy players has made the transition easier. The work we’ve done has definitely put me in good stead for matches as I felt ready out there.”

Looking ahead, Kerr said: “Pre-season isn’t finished yet so I have to keep working hard. There isn’t long till the season starts so that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

The Warriors travel to AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium on Sunday 26 January to face Leeds Rhinos in Ash Handley’s Testimonial. Tickets for the game can be purchased online HERE.

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/wiganwarri ... /Index/146

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/01/ ... xperience/

[Beryl O'Neill]

Well done made up for the promoted player's who was the captain

[josie andrews]

Well done made up for the promoted player's who was the captain

Kruise Leeming led the team out

[Beryl O'Neill]

Thanks for info i saw the highlights on you tube today why was Farrimond not kicking the goals he's an excellent kicker

[josie andrews]

Thanks for info i saw the highlights on you tube today why was Farrimond not kicking the goals he's an excellent kicker

As said earlier not too sure?

[josie andrews]

Thanks for info i saw the highlights on you tube today why was Farrimond not kicking the goals he's an excellent kicker

As said earlier on another thread, not too sure?

[widdenoldboy]

Good run out for both sides. takeaways from me

Good metres from Eckersley/Lowe
Great propping from Makin and Hill who was outstanding with ball in hand as well.
Eseh/Chan looked OK but a way to go yet.

Nice work from Makin/Lowe/Hill/Walters and Farrimond for Forber's try of the match.