Wigan Get Back to Winning Ways
Result from the DW Stadium
Wigan Warriors 34
T - Thornley 3 ,Bowen, Farrell, Flower
G - Smith 5/7
Hull KR 20
T - Langley, Salter, Welham, Cockayne
G - Burns 2/4
Att -12,801
Match Report
Wigan grabbed their second win of the Super League season with a 34-20 victory over Hull KR at the DW Stadium on Friday night.
The home side ran in six tries with a hat-trick for Iain Thornley whilst Matty Bowen, Liam Farrell and Ben Flower were the other Wigan try scorers.
The Warriors led 8-0 before a hat-trick of Rovers tries in quick succession opened up an 8-16 lead for the visitors. A further try apiece made it 14-20 at the break but in the second half the Cherry and Whites kept Rovers scoreless and crossed for three further tries to complete the win.
Wigan were without the suspended Michael McIlorum and Skipper Sean O'Loughlin through injury, Logan Tomkins started at Hooker with Ben Flower continuing at Loose Forward. Rovers gave a debut to new loan signing Ade Gardner.
Wigan took the lead after just 4 minutes, the Warriors gaining advantage from a Rovers knock on with a scrum in the Hull KR 20 and a Green pass sent centre Iain Thornley in for the game's first try, the decision given by the video referee. The difficult conversion was missed by Matty Smith but the home side were off and running leading 4-0.
Moments later a Blake Green cross field kick to the left was almost taken by Joe Burgess, had he managed to keep hold the Rovers defence was stretched and the Winger almost certainly would have been away into space with a try scoring chance.
On 8 minutes, Wigan were in again this time a high kick from Travis Burns was taken by Matty Bowen inside his own 20 and the Full Back spotted a gap and raced the near full length of the field for his second try in Wigan colours, his first at the DW Stadium, to the delight of the home fans. Smith missed the conversion but Wigan were 8-0 up.
Rovers hit back with their first points with 13 minutes on the clock, Kris Keating with a short pass and Jamie Langley was through on his shoulder for the touchdown. Travis Burns struck the conversion, 8-6.
Rovers were soon in for their second try, Wigan penalised as Rovers looked to simply lose the ball in the tackle and from the next set of six Centre Liam Salter managed to push his way over for the try out wide, this time the extras were missed but the visitors from being 8-0 down were 8-10 in the lead.
On 25 minutes, Rovers were given a penalty inside the Wigan 20 to press the home defence once more, a Keating pass opened up the Warriors and Kris Welham eased his way through a gap for the Robins third try in a row. This time Burns struck the goal, 8-16.
After conceding a hat-trick of tries in 12 minutes, Wigan required a response and they got it, Iain Thornley charging over showing good footwork to cross for his second try of the game to the left of the posts, this time Matty Smith added the conversion, 14-16.
On 34 minutes a knock on by Jordan James at the play the ball allowed the Robins possession in a great position and Wigan were opened up on the left as Ben Cockayne found himself in space for Rovers fourth try of the half. Burns missed the goal, 14-20.
In the very last minute of the half, Wigan were denied a try by the video referee for obstruction, a Warriors player running behind the line of the ball when Josh Charnley thought he had scored and the visitors had a six point lead at the break.
Hull KR were inches away from extending their lead in the opening couple of minutes of the second half, only a forward pass denying them a try under the posts in their first attack.
But it was the Warriors with the first try, Green sending Burgess away and the Winger had Liam Farrell in support on his inside for the four points on 44 minutes, Smith with the conversion and the game was all square at 20 all.
Hull KR had a spell of pressure close to the Wigan line, this time the defence held firm. The Robins then provided Wigan with great field position penalised twice in a row and Ben Flower was on hand from a perfect Smith pass to grab the try on 65 minutes and Smith added the goal to edge the home side ahead 26-20.
Wigan extended their lead on 73 minutes through a Smith penalty to open up an eight point advantage, 28-20.
Iain Thornley completed his hat-trick with a couple of minutes remaining and Smith added a great conversion from the touchline to complete a 34-20 success.
So a win for Shaun Wane's men but it wasn't without a scare or two along the way in the first forty minutes but in the second half Wigan were in control of the game and kept Rovers at bay.
Team News
Wigan Warriors - Matty Bowen, Josh Charnley, Darrell Goulding, Iain Thornley, Joe Burgess, Blake Green, Matty Smith, Scott Taylor, Logan Tomkins, Dom Crosby, Liam Farrell, Jack Hughes, Ben Flower
Replacements - Eddy Pettybourne, John Bateman, George Williams, Jordan James
Hull KR - Greg Eden, Ben Cockayne, Kris Welham, Liam Salter, Ade Gardner, Travis Burns, Kris Keating, Justin Poore, Josh Hodgson, Michael Weyman, Kevin Larroyer, Neville Costigan, Jamie Langley
Replacements - Adam Walker, Graeme Horne, Jordon Cox, James Green
Referee R Silverwood
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