Official Report - Hull KR Match Report
A double from Pat Richards ensured Shaun Wane's first game in charge ended in a hard-fought victory over Hull KR.
Close season captures Epalahame Lauaki and Anthony Gelling both started for the Cherry and Whites, with fellow new-boys Gil Dudson and Ben Flower named on the bench for the game at MS3 Craven Park.
The opening exchanges were typical of a pre-season game, with plenty of physicality from both sides, before the boot of Brett Finch earned the Warriors an early repeat set on the home side's line. The new-look Wigan side were unable to convert it into points though, and soon Darrell Goulding and Josh Charnley were forced into action in defence, to deny David Hodgson as he eyed a debut try for the Robins.
The home side did open the scoring not long after though, as young full-back Matthew Russell misjudged a Blake Green grubber behind his own line, and Jake Webster pounced to score. Craig Hall converted to make it 6-0 before Charnley came to Wigan's aid once again shortly after, beating Lincoln Withers to a dangerous Scott Murrell grubber in his own in-goal area.
The Warriors moved swiftly to get back on the offensive, forcing back-to-back sets on the Robins' line again before Finch produced a pin-point cross-kick. Charnley brilliantly plucked the ball out of the air, only for David Hodgson and Rhys Lovegrove to wrap him up just short of the line.
It looked as though the Cherry and Whites' efforts were going to go unrewarded, but on the stroke of half-time, Goulding produced a superb offload to release Russell. He quickly summed up the situation, and cut inside, racing past David Hodgson and Hall to dive over.
Pat Richards' conversion levelled the scores at 6-apiece at the break, but it took barely seven minutes of the second period for the Warriors to hit the front against a Rovers side who had made a raft of changes in the interval.
Mike McIlorum spotted a chance from dummy-half and took off, slicing straight through the Robins' defence and generating a quick play-the-ball to keep the momentum going. Finch took full advantage, kicking long and into space for the flying Richards to chase. David Hodgson got to the ball first, only to fumble it and Richards was on hand to pick up and score before adding the extras himself.
With a much younger side in front of them, the Warriors sensed a chance to get 2012 off to a winning start, and immediately set about extending their lead.
Liam Farrell burst clear down the short side, leaving three defenders in his wake, only to be pulled down just short by Liam Salter. The back-rower still managed to flick an offload out, but the ball bounced agonisingly into touch with his support rushing up alongside him.
Mickey Paea almost cut the deficit for the home side five minutes later, as he barged over from close range, but good Wigan scrambling held him up and prevented him from getting the ball down.
Rovers' defence returned the favour shortly afterwards, as Charnley powered over at the corner, only for Aaron Ollett and Chris Heil to hold him up and deny him once again. However Charnley was not to be denied, and later in the same set, he was given another chance. The winger ensured he was not going to be stopped this time though, as he stayed low and drove over to score.
Richards added his third conversion, before putting the icing on the cake with his second try three minutes from the end, after Lee Mossop's break had freed Finch.
That completed a very solid victory for the Warriors and their new coach.
Hull KR: 1. Shannon McDonnell; 2. Craig Hall, 4. Jake Webster, 13. Rhys Lovegrove, 5. David Hodgson; 6. Blake Green, 19. Scott Murrell; 23. Mickey Paea, 14. Lincoln Withers, 10. Scott Taylor; 11. Con Mika, 12. Ben Galea, 9. Josh Hodgson.
Replacements: 8. Joel Clinton, 15. Liam Watts, 23. James Green, 21. Sam Latus, 32. Chris Heil, 30. Aaron Ollett, 31. Nick Johnson, 29. Liam Salter, 17. Kristian Bell, 16. Jason Netherton, 25. Keal Carlile, 22. Scott Wheeldon, 28. Dave Petersen.
Wigan: 27. Matthew Russell; 2. Josh Charnley, 3. Darrell Goulding, 24. Anthony Gelling, 5. Pat Richards; 6. Brett Finch, 29. Sam Powell; 14. Jeff Lima, 28. Logan Tomkins, 21. Epalahame Lauaki; 11. Harrison Hansen, 16. Liam Farrell, 17. Chris Tuson.
Replacements: 10. Lee Mossop, 9. Michael McIlorum, 22. Gil Dudson, 23. Ben Flower, 25. Joe Mellor, 26. Jack Hughes, 32. Tom Spencer.
Referee: Mr P. Bentham
Attendance: 4,147
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