WARRINGTON Wolves season is all but over after they were humbled 28-0 at home to Wigan Warriors.
It was the first time since moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2004 that the Wolves had failed to score at home, as they were thoroughly outplayed by the visitors, who remain on course for a return to Old Trafford.
A controversial Liam Farrell try got the Warriors on the board, and once John Bateman went over in the second half to stretch their advantage to three scores, they were barely troubled.
Even a home debut for high-profile NRL signing Chris Sandow failed to inspire the Wolves, who are now eight points adrift of the top four with just four games to play.
Farrell’s opening try came via the video referee, after full-back Stefan Ratchford had failed to sweep dead a smart grubber kick, and despite applying downward pressure to the ball, the officials deemed that pressure was unintentional and as such the ball wasn’t grounded before it popped up for the England back-rower to touch down.
Warrington went close through Sandow, before Ben Currie put in a mighty tackle to deny Joel Tomkins at the other end.
Tony Clubb’s try put Wigan 12-0 up at the break, and Warrington at least started strongly in the second half, that was until Bateman’s score took the wind out of their sales.
Impressive full-back Matty Bowen, who kicked four goals on the night, missed a penalty which would have extended the lead to 20, but it mattered little when his kick to the corner was patted down by Dom Manfredi for Bateman’s second try.
A lovely flowing move then ended in a try for debutant centre Oliver Gildart on the left, as Wigan showed little sympathy on what was a sorry night for Warrington given the build-up they had afforded what has in recent years been a top of the table clash.
ALL PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM
Warrington: Ratchford, Penny, Wheeler, Atkins, J Monaghan, Sandow, Myler, Hill, Clark, Sims, Westwood, Currie, Harrison. Interchanges: Dwyer, Asotasi, Philbin, G King.
Wigan: Bowen, Charnley, Bateman, Gildart, Manfredi, Williams, Smith, Crosby, Powell, Flower, Tomkins, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Internchanges: Clubb, Hampshire, Mossop, Sutton.
1 Comment
In four decades of watching Warrington v Wigan games that has to rank as one of the most uninspiring performances I have ever seen from a Warrington team.
To be nilled at home for the first time at the HWJ was embarrassing.