Warrington Wolves left red-faced by 12 man Wigan

Pictures Eddie Whitham

WARRINGTON Wolves crashed out of the challenge cup after a catalogue of errors saw them go down 14-12 to a Wigan Warriors team playing with 12 men from the 6th minute.

Despite being reduced to 12 men after six minutes following a head butt on Stefan Ratchford by Kaide Ellis it was Wigan Warriors who drew first blood.

One season-long loan centre, Toby King, touched down for the Cherry and Whites after a Danny Walker blunder gifted the home team possession.

Ellis had previously seen red after leaving Ratchford with a bloodied nose from two head butts! From the next set, King touched down from a high kick with Harry Smith adding the extras.

On 21 minutes Wigan extended their lead with a Smith penalty after Warrington were penalised for off-side following a catalogue of errors as they failed to take advantage of an extra man, building no pressure on their hosts.

On 25 minutes Bullock and Wardle went to the blood bin after a clash of heads and moments later Josh Thewlis pulled off a try-saving tackle on Marshall in the corner.

Wigan continued to pile on the pressure as Warrington continued to spill possession with Lucas Green and Joe Philbin both coming up with handling errors.

Warrington’s first scoring chance came on 35 minutes when Thewlis and Wrench combined but failed to beat the Wigan defence out wide.

Trailing 8-0 at the break, things didn’t start any better from the kick-off as Wrench knocked on.

It went from bad to worse as Joe Bullock knocked on in front of his own sticks. A great carry from Smithies saw him held up on the line as Warrington survived the pressure.

On 47 minutes Philbin came up with Warrington’s 15th error compared to 5 from Wigan.

A high tackle on Ratchford swung momentum back Warrington’s way as Wigan were penalised for off-side on their own line. Daryl Clark thought he had forced his way over but was ruled out by the video ref. But from the re-start Bullock managed to bulldoze his way over with Ratchford adding the extras to make it 8-6.

But back came Wigan on 58 minutes as winger Minski dove in at the corner after a sweeping move. Smith landed a superb conversion from out wide to make it 14-8.

On 70 minutes Dufty thought he had scored but was ruled out for a double movement giving Wigan a relieving penalty.

Now it was Wigan’s turn to come up with a handling error. From the next set Thewlis was held up just short after a dazzling run and then after a Williams’ high kick managed to get over the line with Ratchford converting to make it 14-12 and a grandstand finish!

A great break from Dufty on 76 minutes came to nothing when Currie lost possession with another mistake. But then Wigan gave the ball away and Thewlis dived in at the corner but his effort was controversially ruled out for a forward pass.

Then on 79 minutes, Warrington gave away another penalty as Wigan pulled off a remarkable victory to land a semi-final against Hull KR.

Wolves: Dufty, Thewlis, Wrench, Ratchford, Ashton, Mata’utia, Williams, Dudson, Walker, Vaughan, Currie, Harrison, Kasiano. Interchanges: Clark, Philbin, Bullock, Green. 18th man Minikin.