Wigan Warriors win 19-18 against Hull KR at KCOM Craven Park after a late long ranged drop goal from Sam Powell. Here’s our verdict…
MATCH DETAILS
The Warriors who opened the scoring in the 11th minute after as Burgess and Gildart finding space down the left, and George Williams finishing off the move.
Hull KR soon responded, as Jimmy Keinhorst ran 80 metres down the field after intercepting a Liam Farrell pass to claim the first try of the day for the home team.
Five minutes before the break, the Warriors retook the lead. This time the space opened up down the right for Dan Sarginson to dive through for the try to make it 10-6, following a missed George Williams conversion.
With a minute to go of the half, Joe Burgess added Wigan’s third of the afternoon in the corner to see Adrian Lam’s side head into the break leading 14-6.
Only three minutes into the second half, Hull pulled one back as Will Dagger found a gap in the Wigan defence to run through to go over.
Hull then took the lead, as Ryan Lannon stretched to ground the ball after a spell of pressure, to make the score 18-14 after 54 minutes.
Once play had resumed it was Wigan who were the next team to score, as Liam Marshall scored an excellent diving try in the corner to level the scores after 65 minutes.
Wigan then clinched a late win with two minutes on the clock, as Sam Powell kicked a drop goal from over 40 metres out to take home the victory.
That late dramatic kick gave the Warriors a narrow 19-18 win.
FOUR POINTERS
The Relegation Battle Continues
Today was an opportunity for Hull KR to increase their deficit over bottom-placed London Broncos. Instead they lost narrowly to the better side.
London also claimed the result of the weekend after a bagging a drop-goal in golden point against the league leaders St Helens.
This means that both Hull KR and London are now level on points with goal difference separating them.
Tough Start
It wasn’t the best of debuts for new head coach Tony Smith who wasn’t able to put his strongest side out on the pitch.
The fixture was his first match in 18 months after leaving Warrington Wolves and the winning start to his Rovers career wasn’t to be.
Smith will now face his former club Warrington in his second game as Hull KR coach next weekend.
Poor Rugby
The quality of Rugby wasn’t at it’s best as they were too many penalties and errors between the two sides.
Both teams caused themselves problems with Wigan struggling to go through the middle of the pack.
Whereas Rovers continued to have problems on the wing where all of their tries were conceded.
Tough Battle
Despite the attacking aspect of the game being underwhelming, the defensive side of the game was impressive by both teams.
None of the tries came from the kick on the fifth tackle, which is a credit to backing players for both sides as they kept both supporters on the edge of their seats.
THE RESULT
Hull KR + 18
Tries: Kienhorst (19’), Dagger (43’), Lannon (54’)
Goals: Shaw (3)
Drop Goals: n/a
Wigan + 19
Tries: Williams (11’), Sarginson (35’), Burgess (39’), Marshall (65’)
Goals: Hardaker (1)
Drop Goals: Powell (78′)
SQUADS
Hull KR: Craig Hall, Ben Crooks, Jimmy Keinhorst, Kane Linnet, Ryan Shaw, Josh Drinkwater, Will Dagger, Owen Harrison, Danny Addy, Mose Masoe, Joel Tomkins, Weller Hauraki, George Lawler.
Interchanges: Chris Atkin, Antoni Maria, Ryan Lannon, Robbie Mulhern.
Wigan: Zak Hardaker, Liam Marshall, Dan Sarginson, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, George Williams, Thomas Leuluai, Ben Flower, Sam Powell, Tony Clubb, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin.
Interchanges: Joe Bullock, Jake Shorrocks, Morgan Smithies, Taulima Tautai.
