Showcase

update with world by showcase

Super League: Wigan 50-12 Catalans Dragons – Warriors win sixth League Leaders’ Shield


For Wigan, winning the Shield is the culmination of a remarkable turnaround in form having been sixth in the table during a controversial and heavy 62-4 defeat away to Hull KR in May in the lead-up to the Challenge Cup final.

That defeat was their fifth in nine games, but since that point they have won all 16 games, beginning with their triumph at Wembley against the Robins.

There were tributes pre-match to captain Farrell, who announced he will retire at the end of the season, as Wigan’s players warmed up with t-shirts emblazoned with Faz 12.

The hosts got off to the perfect start as Smith sold a perfect dummy to glide through the Catalans’ defence to score, but that lead was cut back thanks to Tison’s impressive solo effort soon after.

Marshall cantered in at the corner to put Wigan back ahead, while O’Neill spotted a gap to go through, and Farrell saw the half out having returned from a shoulder injury which had left him on the sidelines since June.

Daniel’s easy run-in on the wing got Wigan going after the break before Field raced in from Farrell’s offload to continue the rout.

Eckersley’s 27th try of the season sent Wigan further ahead as he showed great intelligence to race through, while Keighran matched his fine work with the boot with a long-range run-in of his own. Marshall barged through for his second – leaving Farrell to take, and subsequently miss, the conversion.

Fellow retiree Ben Garcia did succeed with the boot, however, as he kicked the extras in the aftermath of Lis’ try on the verge of the full-time hooter.

Wigan: Field; Daniel, Keighran, Eckersley, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Partington, Ellis.

Interchanges: Farrell, Walters, Mago, Kerr.

Catalans: Marc; Darrelatour, Martin, Cotric, Makinson; Aispuro-Bichet, Dodd; Allen, Tison, Navarrete, Garcia, Laguerre, Bousquet.

Interchanges: Maria, Wilson, Descalzi, Lis.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *