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Tempers boil over - Picture Eddie Whitham

Wolves see off Wigan in front of biggest crowd of season

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By on  Wolves News

Pictures Eddie Whitham

WARRINGTON Wolves defeated Wigan 21-8 in front of 8,014 fans at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

In their first home game since coronavirus restrictions were lifted, having previously been limited to attendances of 4,000, Warrington saw off a spirited first-half performance by the Warriors to eventually secure their 10th league win of the year.


Only a superb tackle from Blake Austin denied Wigan an early try through Jake Bibby, and in a fast-tempo opening, the visitors had the upper hand.

They eventually got on the board through Liam Marshall on 16 minutes, only for Austin to cancel it out minutes later.

Blake Austin scores – Picture Eddie Whitham

Mike Cooper was then denied by the video referee after bouncing the ball in-goal having got on the end of a short kick through.

Marshall’s second down in the left corner nudged Wigan in front at 8-6, and they would have been worthy of that lead at half time.

As it was, after Josh Charnley had a try ruled out by the video referee, Josh Thewlis pounced on a loose ball to put Wire 12-8 in front at the break.

That gave the hosts something to protect, and a Stefan Ratchford penalty put them six points in front and that was how it remained until the hour mark.

It fell to Jake Mamo to score the gamebreaker, picking up a loose ball and going 70 metres for a try, with Ratchford’s conversion stretching the lead to 20-8.

Mamo would later be sent to the sin bin for an altercation with Ollie Partington, who also saw yellow, and even with 12 on 12, Wigan couldn’t find the space to get on the board.

Austin’s drop goal two minutes from time sealed the win.

It was an extra special night for homegrown Mike Cooper as he made his 250th appearance for the club.

Speaking after the game Wolves’ Head Coach Steve Price said: “I thought it was a gutsy, committed display.I thought we were very brave defensively with the amount of field position they had in the first half.
“I was disappointed with our completion rate but that’s a reflection of the Covid situation. We had no training session for last three weeks, we had virtually no players on the field so it was always going to be like that.
“We were clunky with the ball but I’m really proud of the defensive effort. To go in at half-time with a lead was really positive for us with the amount of field position we had and our low completion rate.
“We lost Philbo (Joe Philbin) and Jace (Jason) Clark and went down to 12 so we had to overcome a bit of adversity, it shows we have a resilient team here. Overall it was a positive display.”

Opposite number Adrian Lam was delighted with his team’s performance but not impressed with some refereeing decisions.

“I thought we were outstanding,” Lam said. “I’m really proud of the players, that’s more like the team we want to be. There was plenty of hunger there and we were courageous and resilient at times.

“I couldn’t have asked for more effort-wise. There were a couple of decisions that went again us and we put a bit of pressure on ourselves at the start of second half.”

Lam said referee Robert Hicks was wrong not to refer Mamo’s late try to the video referee and believes he should have awarded a penalty instead for foul play by Warrington winger Josh Charnley.

Warrington Wolves: Thewlis, Mamo, Hughes, King, Charnley, Austin, Ratchford, Hill, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, J Clark, Akauola. Subs: Philbin, Mulhern, Davis, Wrench.

Wigan Warriors: Hastings, Bibby, Isa, Gildart, Marshall, Leuluai, Smith, Singleton, Powell, Clubb, Pearce-Paul, Farrell, Partington. Subs: Shorrocks, Havard, Byrne, Borough.

Mike Cooper

Mike Cooper making his 250th appearance for the club – Picture Eddie Whitham


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Journalist and sport content specialist, who is also editor of Love Rugby League. Formerly ran the official website of the Carling Cup, as well as operating a digital services business in Warrington.

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