WIGAN WIN IN UGLY FASHION
Wigan make it 4 league wins in a row after an ugly 20-18 win away at Hull KR. On a wet and windy Friday night in Hull, both teams struggled to play anywhere near their best in an attempt to entertain the crowd.
After what was a great start by Wigan, in which they scored 2 tries within the opening 13 minutes through Manfredi, was not improved upon by the Warriors. KR where really poor in the first half, with countless unforced errors, giving Wigan great fieldย position.
However, despite repetitive sets on the KR line, Wigan just couldn’t take advantage and continued to struggle in attack. KR responded to all this pressure with a try of their own after what was their only real threat onย the Wigan line in the first half. A Campese kick was left to bounce in goal, and Kelly was first to react to score the try.
KR defended well in the first half to keep Wigan out, however they really didn’t have to. Wigan looked sluggish in attack and lost of ideas when close to the KR line. You could feel and hear the frustration from the onlooking Wigan fans as their players seemed out of sorts.
SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTย
The game picked up a little in the second half. However, from a Wigan perspective, it was an awful second half performance, in attack and defence. KR improved their game just enough to take slight control of the game.
Wigan where the team who was now making too many unforced errors, as the conditions continued to play a huge part int he game. It was a tough night for both sides, as they struggled to keep hold of the ball. One of the worse parts of Wigan’;s game tonight, was their kicking game, with the majority of their kicks finding a KR players breadbasket, or past the dead ball line.
After what was a nervy, tight opening 10 minutes of the second half, KR scored 2 tries in a great 10 minute spell through Minns and Allgood. Both tries came from some weak Wigan defence.
Wigan’s final ball had gone and anything they tried where not coming off like it has been in recent weeks. It seemed to just be one of those nights for Wigan, as time was running out for another late win. You just felt that Wigan would need something special to get them back into the game.
ANOTHER LATE WINNER
Wigan have won many games late onย this season, so you still felt that it wasn’t quite over, despite the poor performance. With only 12 minutes to go, Lewis Tierney (who only played because Sarginson pulled out in the warm-up) made a fantastic break and went 70 metres down field to a huge roar from the Wigan fans. When you look back, this was a huge moment in the game. Wigan players and fans started to believe.
From that break, Wigan would score on the next attack through the returning Anthony Gelling. Wigan still trailed by 4 points, with 10 minutes to go. Wigan started to pile on the pressure in the last few minutes and you sensed their was another try in the game.
KR started to give away penalties and handing Wigan field position. With just 2 minutes to go in the game, who else but Sam Tomkins weaved his way through the Rovers defence to dive over for the equalising try. Smith kicked the conversion to ultimately give Wigan the vital 2 points.
It turned out to be an even better win for Wigan as they leapfrogged Warrington in the league, into 2nd afterย they where beaten 19-12 by league leaders Hull FC on Friday night. With all the talk and attention being on Hull/Warrington/Catalan in recent weeks.ย Wigan have really been under the radar, and now find themselves in a great position.
VIEW OF THE MANAGERS
Hull KR coach, James Webster was understandably upset and talked about their top 8 chances. Webster said:
“It’s was a really gutsy effort. We made too many errors. We were unbelievably tough to repel our tryline for 80 minutes. To lose in that manner was gut-wrenching.
“We had players out there who wanted to come off but we didn’t have enough players to do so.
“The other teams might win three or four games and take it out of our hands. If they don’t win those games, we have to be good enough to capitalise.”
Wigan coach, Shaun Wane was relieved they got the win in the end, but never doubted his players. Wane said:
“We put ourselves under a lot of pressure with 16 errors and kicking the ball out on the last play so many times. I’m ecstatic to have got the win in the end.
“I felt we could snag the game if we showed a bit of composure. We showed we can grind games out and it was a great effort to finish the game the way we did.
“We were way off our best – but we still found a way to win.”
IN THE SHEDS
There where no incidents in the game that would cause the RFL to charge a player next week.
Wigan’s Dan Sarginson pulled out of the game in the pre match warm-up due to a thigh problem. Young Lewis Tierney stepped in his place.ย Wigan coach, Shaun Wane confirmed that Sarginson will have his injury assessed over the weekend.
KR had problems in the second half as both Boudebza and Campese both picked up injuries and where forced to sit out the rest of the game. KR coach, James Webster confirmed their injuries after the game, but never specified the injury or seriousness.
FINAL SCORE – MATCH DETAILS
Hull KR: (6) 18
Tries: Kelly, Minns, Allgood
Goals: Sio 3/3
Wigan: (8) 20
Tries: Manfredi 2, Gelling, S Tomkins
Goals: Smith 2/4
Hull KR: Marsh, Sio, Minns, Thornley, Dixon, Campese, Kelly, Tilse, Lunt, Walker, Blair, Clarkson, Greenwood.
Replacements: Allgood, Mulhern, Green, Boudebza.
Wigan: S. Tomkins, Charnley, Gelling, Sarginson(replaced by Tierney), Manfredi, Williams, Smith, Crosby, Powell, Flower, Sutton, Isa, J. Tomkins.
Replacements: Mossop, Tautai, Burke, Bretherton.
Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance:ย
Venue:ย The KC Lightstream Stadium
Date/Time:ย Friday 10th June 2016 – 20:00pm GMT
