WARRINGTON WOLVES 12
WIGAN WARRIORS 20
DAVE PARKINSON at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Wednesday
Ten days before the start of their respective Super League campaigns, Warrington and Wigan met in an entertaining friendly. Although the game was littered with mistakes you got the feeling both coaches got what they wanted out of the hit-out.
Wigan boss Michael Maguire speaking after Harrison Hansen’s late score made the game safe for the Warriors following an equally stirring defensive effort said, “As a team I feel that we are moving forward in the right direction. That’s what I was after in today’s game and I thought we competed in everything that we did. I don’t like to isolate too many individuals but Sean O’Loughlin with his effort and Amos Roberts, I thought he played well. Sam (Tomkins), his competitiveness, he fights for everything. Across the board there were a lot of good efforts.”
The Wolves were led out by testimonial man Paul Wood who started the game. Wood is something of a rare breed in a modern game where money talks and is celebrating ten years of being a Wolf in 2010. Afterwards Wood paid tribute to the 4,622 spectators that braved a cold night to pay tribute to the born and bred Wiganer.
“It was a good night and a good turn out.” He said. “Wigan travelled in numbers and Warrington were the same as usual. It was pretty special really.”
“I’ll try my best to maintain my form, but there are six other prop forwards in the squad that want the same. I’ve just got to keep playing and improving week in, week out. I’m confident but I’ve got a lot of work to do yet. All my family are Wigan fans and that gave it a bit of extra spice but I’m glad we played Wigan because it gives us a good indication of where we are at. I think Wigan are going to be up there this season and we hopefully want to be in the same situation.”
Warrington coach Tony Smith was fulsome in his praise of Wood. “Paul put’s his hand up every week. He’s been doing it for ten years and I’m glad we celebrated that here tonight. What you see is what you get with Woody. He goes hard and he did some good stuff out there. Whether it was his testimonial or not, he would have done that anyway.”
Of the game, Smith said, “I’ve learned some good and some not so good. We have some stuff to work on but it’s good that you find out now. We needed that hit-out against a quality opposition and it was good for us.”
Warrington made a good start to the game and following a penalty from French whistler Thierry Alibert they gained a foothold in Wigan territory. Michael Monaghan darted from dummy half and Adrian Morley forced his way past two defenders to the line. Lee Briers converted before Wigan hit back. George Carmont burst forward from a scrum only to be denied before two tries in three minutes nudged the game in the visitors favour.
A spell of constant Wigan pressure saw the Wolves finally falter when O’Loughlin slid an intelligent kick behind the Warrington goal line and former Wolves favourite Martin Gleeson grounded. Pat Richards missed the kick and his next conversion attempt after O’Loughlin unleashed Cameron Phelps and Sam Tomkins supported in midfield. Chris Bridge tackled back but quick ball to the right gave Gleeson the chance to flick a pass out to Roberts. The Australian had a lot of work to do but stepped, raced and then forced his way in at the corner.
The Wolves too had their moments but poor execution led to an opportunity bypassing Chris Riley while Louis Anderson was felled by a magnificent try saving tackle by Sam Tomkins when he looked in full flow for the line.
Trailing 8-6 at the interval, Warrington made a bright start to the second half but sloppy hands cost them dear and Wigan edged territory before breakthrough came in the 53rd minute. O’Loughlin was again the provider and his short pass put youngster Lee Mossop over for a Roberts converted try.
Warrington pressed for a score but superb rearguard defence from Wigan with O’Loughlin, Joel Tomkins and Hansen to the fore kept the hosts at bay for 28 minutes of the second half before an expansive move down the right saw Riley speed in at the corner from a one handed offload by Bridge. Briers added his second goal to put the Wolves within two points.
When Richie Myler was caught in possession on the last tackle a couple of minutes from the end, Wigan moved upfield and Paul Deacon linked with Sam Tomkins for the halfback to break and send Hansen over for the clincher which was goaled by Richards.
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