Liam Marshall scored a sensational hat-trick to help Wigan Warriors to a hard-fought 24-16 win against Wakefield Trinity at the Mobile Rocket Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Victory for the Warriors moves them into second-place in Super League with Trinity still needing one more win to secure their top-flight status. Here’s how the action unfolded.
MATCH DETAILS
A wonderful performance from Liam Marshall, who ran in his second hat-trick of the season, helped Wigan to an eight-point victory against a battling Wakefield side, as the Warriors claimed their first win at the Mobile Rocket Stadium in three seasons.
Marshall ran in the game’s opening two tries, running 80-metres for his first effort before finishing well in the right-hand corner for his second as Wigan punished a pair of Wakefield errors in difficult conditions in West Yorkshire.
Wakefield’s James Batchelor reduced the deficit when he was quickest to touch down Jacob Miller’s deflected kick before a Zak Hardaker penalty stretched Wigan’s lead to six points five minutes before half time.
Trinity levelled the game up, right on the stroke of half time, when Miller went over for his side’s second try after being found by Morgan Escare, with Danny Brough successful with the conversion to send the teams in at 12-apiece at the break.
Marshall completed his hat-trick in the second-half with an excellent solo try, rounding off a superb individual display, and reclaiming the lead for his side heading into the final quarter.
Ben Jones-Bishop responded once again for Trinity when he grounded Escare’s grubber kick out in the corner, with Danny Brough unable to add the extras, making it a two-point game for the remaining 10 minutes.
However, a last gasp try from Sam Powell secured the two points for Wigan, with Hardaker’s successful conversion securing an eight-point victory for the Warriors who move into second-place in Super League after claiming their fifth successive win in the competition.
Defeat for Wakefield means they are yet to secure their safety in Super League for next season but should require just one win from their final two fixtures after bottom side London Broncos were soundly beaten at home by Leeds Rhinos.
Liam Farrell was denied the opening try of the game when he went over on seven minutes, with the play called back for a forward pass by George Williams in an error strewn opening 15 minutes from both sides at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.
A try-saving tackle from Jones-Bishop kept the game scoreless on 16 minutes, when he prevented Joe Burgess from grounding the ball, holding up the Wigan winger over the line.
The Warriors broke the deadlock on the 20-minute mark when Marshall ran 80-metres with the ball, after pouncing on a Wakefield spillage, bursting down the right-hand side, before going over in the corner.
Another Wakefield handling error handed Wigan their second try on 27 minutes, handing over the ball on the first tackle, with Williams producing an excellent lofted pass out wide to Marshall who finished well in the corner to double his try tally for the afternoon.
Trinity responded with a try of their own on the half-hour mark when Miller’s attacking kick took a ricochet into the Wigan in-goal area, with Batchelor quickest to reach the loose ball and touch down to give the home side hope heading into the interval.
Wigan added two points to their total on 35 minutes, when Hardaker kicked a simple penalty between the sticks to give his side a six-point lead heading into the final minutes of the half.
However, the Dreadnoughts managed to draw themselves level when Kelepi Tanginoa drove up-field before passing to on-loan Wigan man Escare who in-turn found Trinity captain Miller who crossed the line with Brough’s conversion bringing the scores level as the half time hooter sounded.
Marshall completed his treble on 58 minutes with a quite stunning individual try, having fielded the ball in his own in-goal area, the winger tapped on the 20 before beating Trinity’s covering defenders to score his third try of the afternoon, which was crucially converted by Hardaker.
Trinity kept themselves close on Wigan’s heels when Jones-Bishop finished Escare’s excellent grubber kick in the corner on 69 minutes, with Brough unable to convert the score to keep Wigan two-points ahead as the game approached its climax.
However, Powell’s try right at the death, after a clever show and go, secured the two-points for the Warriors as they continue to impress heading into the final few weeks of the regular Super League season.
FOUR POINTERS
Wakefield Battling
Whilst defeat at home to Wigan wasn’t the result Chris Chester was hoping for, he can at least take some positives from his side’s performance. After suffering several convincing defeats to the teams towards the top of the Super League table, the Dreadnoughts showed plenty of heart on Sunday afternoon against the Warriors. Trinity were level with the reigning champions at half time and competed right to the final hooter, giving them plenty of positives to take into their final two fixtures.
One Win From Safety
With London Broncos losing at home to Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield surely now only need to win one of their remaining two fixtures to secure their Super League status. A trip to out-of-sorts Warrington Wolves next week looks as winnable as that game ever would, before meeting basement side London in their final league fixture which could yet prove to be a relegation four-pointer. If they play like they did against Wigan, Trinity should be confident of retaining their place in Super League for next season.
Magic Marshall
Liam Marshall was at his very best on Sunday afternoon, after scoring a sensational hat-trick at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. His first effort saw him collect a loose ball before running for 80-metres to go over in the corner before then finishing well, after being picked out by George Williams, again scoring in the right-hand corner, to double his tally for the game. He completed his hat trick in style, fielding the ball in his own in-goal area before taking the 20-metre tap and racing through to score in a magnificent individual performanceย from the 23-year-old.
Full Steam Ahead
Wigan are comfortably playing their best rugby of the season, at exactly the right time. Their win against Wakefield was their 10th in their last 11 Super League games and now sit in second-place in the table with just two matches left to play. Whilst bitter rivals St Helens have run away with the League Leaders’ Shield, the Warriors look like being the only side capable of preventing them from claiming their first Super League title since 2014.
THE RESULT
Wakefield Trinity 16
Tries: Batchelor, Miller, Jones-Bishop
Goals: Brough 2
Drop Goals: n/a
Wigan Warriors 24
Tries: Marshall 3, Powell
Goals: Hardaker 4
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Wakefield Trinity: Escare, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Hampshire, Miller, Brough, England, Wood, Kopczak, Kirmond, Batchelor, Tanginoa
Interchanges:ย Randell, Annakin, Green, Tangata
Wigan Warriors: Hardaker, Marshall, Sarginson, Gildart, Burgess, Williams, Leuluai, Clubb, Powell, Partington, Isa, Farrell, Smithies
Interchanges:ย Greenwood, Navarrete, Byrne, French
