Wigan won through to Old Trafford to play arch rivals St Helens for the Grand Final and Leeds boss Brian McClennan admitted that the Rhinos had "thrown the kitchen sink at them."
Pat Richards opened the scoring with a penalty after 14 minutes but Leeds struck right back when Martin Gleeson lost possesion in a Danny Buderus tackle, the ball moved right and Kevin Sinfield rounded Harrison Hansen to finish from thirty metres before converting.
Leeds defence was dominant and restricted Wigan to just thirty metres progress on their next possession. The Rhinos gained their first penalty after 22 minutes and tried to launch an attack only for Ian Kirke to spill the ball.
Wigan's kicking game continued to misfire which put Leeds on the front foot while in comparison the Rhinos varied things in the same area. Wigan lost the influential Sean O'Loughlin temporarily to injury and this didn't help their organisation.
Good thinking from the Rhinos nearly launched Ryan Hall but the pass from Brent Webb after Buderus worked the right side drifted forward.
Iefeta Paaleasina charged through the middle after 27 minutes but his offload did not find support and Leeds went within inches of claiming a try before being awarded a penalty for obstruction. Wigan kept their line intact with Gleeson sparking a counter attack. The ball came right to Darrell Goulding and he sped down the wing before kicking forward and appearing to knock on. The decision was referred up to the video referee but the score remained the same.
The game moved from end to end before Thomas Leuluai put a high kick for Richards which was spilled by Hall. Wigan drove to the line with Mike McIlorum held on the line and the Warriors moved play right again for Goulding to force his way over from a speculative Joel Tomkins offload. Richards converted and suddenly the Warriors were in front.
Richards tried a long range drop goal against a swirling breeze but the teams went in at half-time with Wigan leading 8-6.
At the start of the second half Paul Prescott went over the top of Chris Clarkson and Sam Tomkins almost broke before Paul Deacon launched a wonderful kick that saw Scott Donald fluff the ball allowing Joel Tomkins the opportunity to juggle and then place the ball down for his fourth try in five matches. Once again Richards converted and all of a sudden it was 14-6 to Wigan.
Another try followed quickly for Wigan when the ball came free from a McIlorum carry and George Carmont dabbed on and won the race to claim the score.
Leeds were backpedalling. It was 20-6 after just seven minutes of the second half and they were struggling to make metres as Wigan upped their defensive efforts.
The Rhinos needed inspiration and they gained possession and then a penalty thanks to Matt Diskin. In using the ball, Leeds came close to getting their first try of the second half only for Sam Tomkins to intervene.
With the Rhinos season on the line Keith Senior conceded a penalty due to back chat and Wigan went downfield again only to see Joel Tomkins penalised for a tackle on Rob Burrow.
Wigans defence held with Richards stopping Buderus but when equally solid tackling put Goulding into touch Leeds had another opportunity. The Warriors swarmed and continued to upset the Rhinos despite a superb break from Brett Delaney.
The Warriors continued to control the pace of the game despite Leeds efforts they were frustrated time and time again before Danny Buderus touched down after 76 minutes. Even this wasn't clear cut and went upstairs for video referee Ben Thaler to disallow the effort. This sparked mass celebrations at the Wigan end and when Leuluai was tackled high by Webb, the Warriors pushed the ball into the corner for Carmont, Harrison Hansen and Joel Tomkins to work the ball to Gleeson it sent Wigan to Old Trafford for the first time since 2003. Richards added his fifth goal to make it a 26-6 win.
Wigan boss Michael Maguire said "there's a great feeling in the camp and I'm very proud. In the fist half we werent getting the defence that we liked but in the second half the boys definitely came out and performed."
WIGAN 26 (Tries: Darrell Goulding, Joel Tomkins, George Carmont, Martin Gleeson. Goals: Pat Richards 5/5) defeated LEEDS 6 (Try: Kevin Sinfield, Goal: Kevin Sinfield 1/1.)
Showing posts with label Wigan Warriors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wigan Warriors. Show all posts
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Sunday, 19 September 2010
RL Comment: Clubcall
So the big day of the clubcall has arrived and I still can't help but think this is something of a gimmick, I don't know what anyone else thinks about it.
Every other team sport has a structure and this is unusual, however gimmick or not in my eyes, it does buy the RFL more media attention because it is different.
Last year it was Leeds that had the clubcall and they opted to play Catalans Dragons. This year, by virtue of being the highest placed winner on the league ladder after the first week of the play-offs, St Helens have the honour and the unusual step of being able to pick who they will play in the last ever first team game at Knowsley Road.
The teams they can pick from are arch nemesis Wigan, who defeated Hull KR 42-18 on Friday night or tough nut Huddersfield who accounted for Warrington 34-22.
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown was already putting his troops on standby for a trip to St Helens, although he did say, "whoever we play now, they are both good teams."
This is true, should Saints opt to take on Wigan, it would pit Huddersfield against current Super League Champions Leeds.
So despite my personal thoughts on the issue, I guess we'll find out in a couple of hours who will play who, and the media will report accordingly.
Every other team sport has a structure and this is unusual, however gimmick or not in my eyes, it does buy the RFL more media attention because it is different.
Last year it was Leeds that had the clubcall and they opted to play Catalans Dragons. This year, by virtue of being the highest placed winner on the league ladder after the first week of the play-offs, St Helens have the honour and the unusual step of being able to pick who they will play in the last ever first team game at Knowsley Road.
The teams they can pick from are arch nemesis Wigan, who defeated Hull KR 42-18 on Friday night or tough nut Huddersfield who accounted for Warrington 34-22.
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown was already putting his troops on standby for a trip to St Helens, although he did say, "whoever we play now, they are both good teams."
This is true, should Saints opt to take on Wigan, it would pit Huddersfield against current Super League Champions Leeds.
So despite my personal thoughts on the issue, I guess we'll find out in a couple of hours who will play who, and the media will report accordingly.
Friday, 17 September 2010
SUPER LEAGUE ROUND UP - WIGAN TOO GOOD FOR ROVERS
Once again, Wigan proved too good for Hull Kingston Rovers although this time it came in the heat of play-off rugby.
Twice this season Hull KR lost out to Wigan but after 9 and 20 minutes, Rovers fans must have been in dreamland as they led their illustrious opponents.
The hosts opened the scoring through the prolific Pat Richards following a wonderful cut-out pass from Sam Tomkins before Peter Fox got in at the corner and Michael Dobson converted from wide out just a moment later.
Rovers were then in dreamland as first Scott Murrell kicked on before Ben Fisher grubbered a second time. Streaming up was Ben Cockayne and he finished his 7th try of the season well for Dobson to make it 12-6 to the visitors.
Wigan launched another attack and scored a second try when Mark Riddell found a short running Liam Farrell for his 9th try of the season.
Once again Rovers equalised and when Dobson landed his third goal from a penalty against Riddell, that nudged the Hull side in front after 20 minutes.
If Rovers had shaded the first twenty minutes, Wigan dominated the next fifteen and Darrell Goulding slid in at the corner after 23 minutes after earlier having the ball stolen from him by fullback Shaun Briscoe.
Richards converted and the hosts got themselves on the scoreboard for a fourth time just before the interval after Sam Tomkins ran 40 metres across field and five metres forward before looping a pass for Goulding to grab his second. A magnificent touchline goal from Richards made it 24-14 at the break.
Gradually Wigan wore down their opposition at the start of the new half and they eventually made it count on the scoreboard when Thomas Leuluai was adjudged to have grounded the ball by referee Richard Silverwood despite appearing to be stopped in the nick of time by a two man tackle.
Within a couple of minutes Wigan went on the charge again and Martin Gleeson picked his way over in classy fashion from twenty metres. Rovers threatened to make a game of it after 67 minutes when Dobson kicked to the ingoal and Fox nipped in behind Sam Tomkins to ground as the fullback became too preoccupied with holding Cockayne off.
The Warriors needed another try and it came within a couple of minutes when good work took the hosts close before Joel Tomkins showed good evasive skills to claim a try and Richards kept up his 100 per cent revord with the boot to book Wigan a spot in next weekend's elemination semi-finals.
WIGAN 42 (T: Richards, Farrell, Goulding 2, Leuluai, Gleeson, J Tomkins. G: Richards 7/7) defeated HULL KR 18 (T: Fox 2, Cockayne. G: Dobson 3/4) at the DW Stadium.
Twice this season Hull KR lost out to Wigan but after 9 and 20 minutes, Rovers fans must have been in dreamland as they led their illustrious opponents.
The hosts opened the scoring through the prolific Pat Richards following a wonderful cut-out pass from Sam Tomkins before Peter Fox got in at the corner and Michael Dobson converted from wide out just a moment later.
Rovers were then in dreamland as first Scott Murrell kicked on before Ben Fisher grubbered a second time. Streaming up was Ben Cockayne and he finished his 7th try of the season well for Dobson to make it 12-6 to the visitors.
Wigan launched another attack and scored a second try when Mark Riddell found a short running Liam Farrell for his 9th try of the season.
Once again Rovers equalised and when Dobson landed his third goal from a penalty against Riddell, that nudged the Hull side in front after 20 minutes.
If Rovers had shaded the first twenty minutes, Wigan dominated the next fifteen and Darrell Goulding slid in at the corner after 23 minutes after earlier having the ball stolen from him by fullback Shaun Briscoe.
Richards converted and the hosts got themselves on the scoreboard for a fourth time just before the interval after Sam Tomkins ran 40 metres across field and five metres forward before looping a pass for Goulding to grab his second. A magnificent touchline goal from Richards made it 24-14 at the break.
Gradually Wigan wore down their opposition at the start of the new half and they eventually made it count on the scoreboard when Thomas Leuluai was adjudged to have grounded the ball by referee Richard Silverwood despite appearing to be stopped in the nick of time by a two man tackle.
Within a couple of minutes Wigan went on the charge again and Martin Gleeson picked his way over in classy fashion from twenty metres. Rovers threatened to make a game of it after 67 minutes when Dobson kicked to the ingoal and Fox nipped in behind Sam Tomkins to ground as the fullback became too preoccupied with holding Cockayne off.
The Warriors needed another try and it came within a couple of minutes when good work took the hosts close before Joel Tomkins showed good evasive skills to claim a try and Richards kept up his 100 per cent revord with the boot to book Wigan a spot in next weekend's elemination semi-finals.
WIGAN 42 (T: Richards, Farrell, Goulding 2, Leuluai, Gleeson, J Tomkins. G: Richards 7/7) defeated HULL KR 18 (T: Fox 2, Cockayne. G: Dobson 3/4) at the DW Stadium.
SL Preview: Wigan v Hull KR
Like the Highlander films "There can be only one" as Wigan take on Hull Kingston Rovers at the DW Stadium tonight.
This has the potential to be a good game with Wigan still smarting from their narrow defeat to Leeds and Rovers cock-a-hoop at beating their neighbours last week.
I feel that both packs are fairly evenly matched with Clint Newton in pretty good form for the visitors while Ben Galea worked himself to a stand-still last week. The occasions I have seen Rhys Lovegrove this season he too has impressed while Michael Vella is another right up there in the performance rankings at Craven Park.
Last week I felt Ben Fisher had an excellent game. His distribution was crisp and his workrate tremendous - 44 tackles being credited to him in the League Express. Shaun Briscoe will return to the scene of his first professional club, as will Liam Colbon. Ben Cockayne also had a superb game for Rovers. He is a player that can really get under the skin of the opposition but a look at his stats just shows how much he added to the Robins against their arch local rivals. He made 23 tackles, took the ball in 16 times and made 138 metres.
Another former Wigan player is Michael Dobson and when he plays well, Rovers excel. Last week was one of his good days, and what a day! His field kicking was excellent and he banged four goals over too.
It could be a battle of the little big men and I wonder whether Michael Maguire will move Man-of-Steel nominations Sam Tomkins and Pat Richards?
Tomkins has done a good job at fullback and has something of the Darren Lockyer about him, which can only be good for England's hopes in the end of season Four Nations but I wonder whether due to injury to Paul Deacon he will move up to the halves to partner Thomas Leuluai.
Wigan will be dangerous, make no bones about it. Martin Gleeson and George Carmont are both shrewd operators in the centre while the likes of Richards and Darrell Goulding have finished off chances and half chances all season.
Leuluai himself is the only British based player to be selected in the squad so far announced by New Zealand for the Four Nations and he has matured into an even better player whether at halfback of hooker. Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley give the Warriors good go-forward while Liam Farrell has been this years Super League bolter. Farrell started the season on the fringes of the Wigan first team and was farmed out to Widnes on a dual contract. There he excelled and ever since being recalled by the Warriors he has appeared more in the first team than the Under-20s. He is learning all the time from people like Sean O'Loughlin who deserves all the press heading his way this season.
The scene is set - let's hope it's a good game and not the wash out we witnessed at the same ground earlier this year when Wigan found it all too easy on their way to a 32-6 win.
This has the potential to be a good game with Wigan still smarting from their narrow defeat to Leeds and Rovers cock-a-hoop at beating their neighbours last week.
I feel that both packs are fairly evenly matched with Clint Newton in pretty good form for the visitors while Ben Galea worked himself to a stand-still last week. The occasions I have seen Rhys Lovegrove this season he too has impressed while Michael Vella is another right up there in the performance rankings at Craven Park.
Last week I felt Ben Fisher had an excellent game. His distribution was crisp and his workrate tremendous - 44 tackles being credited to him in the League Express. Shaun Briscoe will return to the scene of his first professional club, as will Liam Colbon. Ben Cockayne also had a superb game for Rovers. He is a player that can really get under the skin of the opposition but a look at his stats just shows how much he added to the Robins against their arch local rivals. He made 23 tackles, took the ball in 16 times and made 138 metres.
Another former Wigan player is Michael Dobson and when he plays well, Rovers excel. Last week was one of his good days, and what a day! His field kicking was excellent and he banged four goals over too.
It could be a battle of the little big men and I wonder whether Michael Maguire will move Man-of-Steel nominations Sam Tomkins and Pat Richards?
Tomkins has done a good job at fullback and has something of the Darren Lockyer about him, which can only be good for England's hopes in the end of season Four Nations but I wonder whether due to injury to Paul Deacon he will move up to the halves to partner Thomas Leuluai.
Wigan will be dangerous, make no bones about it. Martin Gleeson and George Carmont are both shrewd operators in the centre while the likes of Richards and Darrell Goulding have finished off chances and half chances all season.
Leuluai himself is the only British based player to be selected in the squad so far announced by New Zealand for the Four Nations and he has matured into an even better player whether at halfback of hooker. Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley give the Warriors good go-forward while Liam Farrell has been this years Super League bolter. Farrell started the season on the fringes of the Wigan first team and was farmed out to Widnes on a dual contract. There he excelled and ever since being recalled by the Warriors he has appeared more in the first team than the Under-20s. He is learning all the time from people like Sean O'Loughlin who deserves all the press heading his way this season.
The scene is set - let's hope it's a good game and not the wash out we witnessed at the same ground earlier this year when Wigan found it all too easy on their way to a 32-6 win.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
What a hum-dinger - SL: WARRINGTON V WIGAN 20/02/2010
The new season may only be a few weeks old but there will be few games that better this evenings between old rivals Warrington and Wigan.
Prior to tonight Wigan had never won a competitive game at the Halliwell Jones Stadium where two 100% records went on the line.
At the end of eighty minutes of high drama and excitement, history was made with the Warriors moving to the top of the embryonic Super League table.
Warrington opened the game well and forced a couple of early drop outs without being fully able to escape the defence.
Somewhat against the run of play, Wigan opened scoring after 8 minutes when Andy Coley passed inside and Amos Roberts, deputising at fullback for the injured Cameron Phelps motored into the Wolves half before taking advantage of a Matt King slip to then hare over in the right corner. Pat Richards couldn't convert but Wigan led 4-0.
Finally the Wolves found a way through after 20 minutes when Michael Monaghan jumped left from dummy half and Richie Myler was on his shoulder for a Lee Briers converted effort.
Warrington grabbed a second try after 28 minutes when swift movement down the right created an overlap and a Chris Bridge dipping pass was well finished by Chris Riley for his seventh try of the season. The Wolves saw a try chalked off by video referee Phil Bentham in the 35th minute when he ruled against Monaghan from a Briers kick but this only delayed the inevitable and David Solomona went over two minutes later with a twisting effort from dummy half. Briers second goal gave the hosts a 16-4 half-time lead much to the satisfaction of most of the sell-out 13,024 crowd.
A mistake from youngster Lee Mossop heaped pressure on the visitors early in the second half but they tackled well to prevent a lively Warrington from scoring.
Video referee Phil Bentham again intervened to deny a Wolves try before 54 minutes in, an ankle injury forced Briers off and Warrington never fully recovered.
Spotting their chance Wigan upped their efforts in speed and intensity and it paid off. First the ever elusive Roberts created something out of nothing to score after 57 minutes; although it needed passing to Mr Bentham to rule on contact between Martin Gleeson and his former team-mate King on the try line.
Richards missed the conversion but more quick play down the right saw 21 year-old Darrell Goulding do no harm to his first team future when he took Roberts pass to ground in the corner.
Richards converted and Warrington were really on the back foot when they conceded consecutive penalties in the 66th minute. The second of these saw Paul Deacon opt for goal and Richards added his second to tie the game.
On their next possession, Wigan looked to be taking things steadily with drives from their forwards before Sam Tomkins provided the unexpected with a chip over the defence and regather. Thomas Leuluai streamed up in support and worked the position brilliantly for Joel Tomkins to go over for the try that put Wigan in front. This allowed Richards to add his third goal via the upright.
The game moved from one excitement to another and within a few minutes Louis Anderson scored a simple try when he ran strongly at the much smaller Leuluai but Chris Bridge saw his conversion attempt graze the wrong side of the posts.
Wigan's keen defence again kept the Wolves at bay with the likes of O'Loughlin, Joel Tomkins and Harrison Hansen well to the fore while Coley and Stuart Fielden came up with some good work alongside Paul Prescott.
A 40-20 from Monaghan gifted Warrington a chance with three minutes remaining but Coley's tackle on Bridge dislodged the ball while the Wolves turned down a kickable penalty attempt to push for the try.
Warrington thought they had produced a match winning play when Solomona drove low for the line. Referee Richard Silverwood referred the decision to Mr Bentham and after an agonising couple of minutes that saw several different views of the incident appear on the SKY big screen it was disallowed for Wigan to run down the clock and claim a thrilling and historic victory.
Warrington 20
Tries: Louis Anderson, David Solomona, Richie Myler, Chris Riley
Goals: Lee Briers 2/3 Chris Bridge 0/1
Wigan 22
Tries: Joel Tomkins, Darrell Goulding, Amos Roberts 2
Goals: Pat Richards 3/5
Half time: 16-4
Referee: Mr R Silverwood
Penalties: 10-9
Prior to tonight Wigan had never won a competitive game at the Halliwell Jones Stadium where two 100% records went on the line.
At the end of eighty minutes of high drama and excitement, history was made with the Warriors moving to the top of the embryonic Super League table.
Warrington opened the game well and forced a couple of early drop outs without being fully able to escape the defence.
Somewhat against the run of play, Wigan opened scoring after 8 minutes when Andy Coley passed inside and Amos Roberts, deputising at fullback for the injured Cameron Phelps motored into the Wolves half before taking advantage of a Matt King slip to then hare over in the right corner. Pat Richards couldn't convert but Wigan led 4-0.
Finally the Wolves found a way through after 20 minutes when Michael Monaghan jumped left from dummy half and Richie Myler was on his shoulder for a Lee Briers converted effort.
Warrington grabbed a second try after 28 minutes when swift movement down the right created an overlap and a Chris Bridge dipping pass was well finished by Chris Riley for his seventh try of the season. The Wolves saw a try chalked off by video referee Phil Bentham in the 35th minute when he ruled against Monaghan from a Briers kick but this only delayed the inevitable and David Solomona went over two minutes later with a twisting effort from dummy half. Briers second goal gave the hosts a 16-4 half-time lead much to the satisfaction of most of the sell-out 13,024 crowd.
A mistake from youngster Lee Mossop heaped pressure on the visitors early in the second half but they tackled well to prevent a lively Warrington from scoring.
Video referee Phil Bentham again intervened to deny a Wolves try before 54 minutes in, an ankle injury forced Briers off and Warrington never fully recovered.
Spotting their chance Wigan upped their efforts in speed and intensity and it paid off. First the ever elusive Roberts created something out of nothing to score after 57 minutes; although it needed passing to Mr Bentham to rule on contact between Martin Gleeson and his former team-mate King on the try line.
Richards missed the conversion but more quick play down the right saw 21 year-old Darrell Goulding do no harm to his first team future when he took Roberts pass to ground in the corner.
Richards converted and Warrington were really on the back foot when they conceded consecutive penalties in the 66th minute. The second of these saw Paul Deacon opt for goal and Richards added his second to tie the game.
On their next possession, Wigan looked to be taking things steadily with drives from their forwards before Sam Tomkins provided the unexpected with a chip over the defence and regather. Thomas Leuluai streamed up in support and worked the position brilliantly for Joel Tomkins to go over for the try that put Wigan in front. This allowed Richards to add his third goal via the upright.
The game moved from one excitement to another and within a few minutes Louis Anderson scored a simple try when he ran strongly at the much smaller Leuluai but Chris Bridge saw his conversion attempt graze the wrong side of the posts.
Wigan's keen defence again kept the Wolves at bay with the likes of O'Loughlin, Joel Tomkins and Harrison Hansen well to the fore while Coley and Stuart Fielden came up with some good work alongside Paul Prescott.
A 40-20 from Monaghan gifted Warrington a chance with three minutes remaining but Coley's tackle on Bridge dislodged the ball while the Wolves turned down a kickable penalty attempt to push for the try.
Warrington thought they had produced a match winning play when Solomona drove low for the line. Referee Richard Silverwood referred the decision to Mr Bentham and after an agonising couple of minutes that saw several different views of the incident appear on the SKY big screen it was disallowed for Wigan to run down the clock and claim a thrilling and historic victory.
Warrington 20
Tries: Louis Anderson, David Solomona, Richie Myler, Chris Riley
Goals: Lee Briers 2/3 Chris Bridge 0/1
Wigan 22
Tries: Joel Tomkins, Darrell Goulding, Amos Roberts 2
Goals: Pat Richards 3/5
Half time: 16-4
Referee: Mr R Silverwood
Penalties: 10-9
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