Pictures Eddie Whitham
THE size of the job at hand for Warrington Wolves was emphasised by a 40-22 home defeat to Wigan.
Wigan couldn’t have dreamt for a better start as Iain Thornley charged over two minutes in to score his first Wigan try for seven years.
Warrington quickly replied though thanks to a quick show and go from young half-back Riley Dean.
Riley Dean scores – Picture Eddie Whitham
Thornley got his second when he collected a Jai Field pass and got the better of Toby King to touch down.
Wigan extended their lead midway through the first half when Field broke away and found the supporting Bevan French who raced over for a try. Harry Smith’s conversion gave the Warriors an 18-6 advantage.
Warrington pulled one back in the 27th minute thanks to an acrobatic finish from Matty Ashton before Liam Farrell scored to send Wigan into the half-time break 24-10 to the good.
Matty Ashton scores – Picture Eddie Whitham
In-form full-back Field didn’t come back out for the second half due to illness. Sam Halsall came off the bench and French shifted to full-back.
Wigan scored within five minutes of the second half restart when Liam Marshall capitalised on a Josh Thewlis error. Marshall got his second of the night two minutes later.
Warrington were dealt a further blow in the 54th minute when hooker Daryl Clark was sin-binned for repeated offences.
Bulgaria-born prop Ethan Havard edged the Warriors further in front on the hour when he scored in front of Wigan’s travelling contingent.
Warrington scored twice through Danny Walker and Peter Mata’utia in the last 10 minutes but it was too little, too late for the Wolves. The Warriors finished 40-22 winners, with the scoreline flattering the Wolves.
Peter Mata’utia – Picture Eddie Whitham
Warrington: Thewlis; Charnley, Mata’utia, King, Ashton; Dean, Williams; Mulhern, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Holmes, Magoulias. Subs: J Clark, Bullock, Philbin, Walker.
Tries: Dean, Ashton, Walker, Mata’utia Goals: Dean 1, Mata’utia 1, Thewlis 1
Wigan: Field; French, Thornley, Bibby, Marshall; Cust, Smith; Singleton, O’Neill, Ellis, Farrell, Bateman, Smithies. Subs: Mago, Havard, Byrne, Halsall.
Tries: Thornley 2, French, Farrell, Marshall 2, Havard Goals: Smith 6
Riley Dean, lovely step 👏
Entertaining start to Wolves v Warriors live on @SkySportsRL Arena#SuperLeague #SLWarWig pic.twitter.com/yRUxR0DQP8
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 29, 2022
🗣️ “Ashton takes flight, and Warrington hit back.”
Matty Ashton’s eighth try of the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/toVM4zwvWy
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) April 29, 2022
TWO try’s in TWO minutes for Liam Marshall 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KDi9gPM0al
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) April 29, 2022
