A drop goal two minutes from time from Warrington Wolves’ talisman Lee
Briers salvaged a point in a 17-17 draw at Wigan Warriors.
Wigan half-back Matty Smith looked to have given the Warriors an unlikely victory at the DW Stadium, as he slotted over a drop goal nine minutes from time – but Briers had other ideas as he rolled back the years to calmly slot home the equaliser in off the upright with the clock ticking down.
In a thrilling encounter neither side deserved to lose, although Warrington were guilty of far too many errors in the first half and were fortunate to be onbly trailing 12-10 at the break.
But despite dominating much of the second half the Wigan defence restricted the Wolves to just one second half try thanks to some individual brilliance from Richie Myler (pictured top) who side stepped his way through the home sides defence.
There was never more than four points in the closely contested game, although Warrington went into the match as bookies favourites due to their greater experience against a young Wigan outfit.
An early error from Josh Charnley gave the Wolves the first chance to mount sustained pressure and they were rewarded when the ball was swept the width of the pitch with Briers putting Joel Monaghan in at the corner, with Brett Hodgson converting superbly from the touchline.
But Wigan hit back within five minutes, as Matty Smith forced a drop-out with a neat grubber kick, then provided the pass for Darrell Goulding to send Charnley over for a score, although Pat Richards could not add the extras.
On 22 minutes a superb offload from Sean O’Loughlin gave Liam Farrell the space to put Ben Flowers in under the posts, with Richards adding the extras.
But back came Warrington as Charnley dropped Briers’ high kick and the ball was again flung out to the right wing for Joel Monaghan to cross in the same corner, although this time Hodgson missed the kick from a slightly easier angle.
On the stroke of half-time Garreth Carvell knocked on and then struck Blake Green with a high tackle, giving Richards the chance to edge Wigan ahead 12-10 with a penalty.
Myler’s brilliant sidestep early in the seocnd half cut through Wigan’s sliding defence, with Hodgson converting, before Green’s dummy and well-timed pass put Farrell in, with Richards levelling the scores.
Smith’s drop-goal looked to have snatched an unlikely victory for the inexperienced home side abut it was veteran Briers who had the final say in off the upright.
Both men tried long-range efforts before the final hooter but a draw was probably a fair result.
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