While there is still a mathematical chance that they could
win the minor premiership, it was guaranteed that Matty Peet’s Wigan Warriors would
not give up the chase which tonight moved to Perpignan as they faced an
embattled and disappointed Catalans Dragons who would love nothing more than to
spring an upset.
The bookies were backing the visitors to win, giving the
home side a twelve-point start on the coupon, and a win for Wigan would put
them two clear of Leeds in third and within four of the league leaders with
three games of the regular season remaining.
Wigan win the game in May by 48-0 but by a much closer
margin of 28-18 when the two sides met last month, the Dragons motivated for
some revenge in their last home game of the season.
The visitors dominated the early exchanges and too the lead
on seven minutes when Junior Nsemba offloaded to Liam Marshall for the prolific
winger to push past his tackler and ground in the corner. Harry Smith added the
conversion from the left touchline for an early lead.
Marshall got his second on twenty-two, taking a pass and
summersaulting over with a move from the base of the scrum. Smith was unable to
repeat his pinpoint conversion but wigan were good value for their 10-0 lead.
A brilliant third Wigan try saw them edge further ahead, a
delightful pass from Eckersley on the halfway line went straight into the hands
of Jai Field who had an unhindered run to the line to score under the sticks. Smith
converted with easy for 16-0, it was already clear that the Dragons were a poor
second best.
After a good period of Catalans pressure, Wigan failed to
deal with a high kick which bounced back into the hands of Arthur Romano, for
him to drop over the line for the try. Aispuro-Bichet was well wide with his conversion
attempt, the Dragons twelve behind at the break.
It took for second half minutes for the Warriors to add to
their total, Field taking a Bevan French reverse kick to score from five metres
out. Smith added the conversion for 22-4.
A high tackle from Tyler Dupree on Aispuro-Bichet saw the
Wigan man sin-binned on forty-eight minutes, the third Wigan player to make a
reckless high tackle but the first to be shown a card.
Good Dragons pressure against the twelve men proved
fruitless and when the Warriors returned to thirteen men, they took full advantage
with a French chip to the corner being collected by Zach Eckersley and grounded
in the right corner. Smith added a touchline conversion for 28-4.
The icing on the cake for Wigan was a second Eckersley try
on seventy-six off a French miss-out pass to round the winger and improve the
angle. Smith was on target again. Right on the final hooter Liam Marshall completed his hat-trick with a run down the wing. Smith converted brilliantly for a thirty-six point win.
Most expected a Wigan win, and they delivered in some style as
they edged closer to Hull KR and went two points clear of the Leeds Rhinos in
third place as they look to secure a home semi-final in the play-offs. With
Field and French back in their side they look increasingly dangerous as they
head to the business end of the season. It has been a write off season for the
Dragons and they will look to rebuild over the close season and come back much
stronger next year.
Catalans Dragons:
Aispuro-Bichet, Romano (T), Laguerre, Smith, Cotric, Tison, Rougé, Sims, Da
Costa, Navarrete, Sironen, Garcia, Maria.
Subs: Satae, Séguier, Dezaria, Balmforth. 18th Man: .
Wigan Warriors: Field (2T), Eckersley (2T), Farrell, Wardle,
Marshall (3T), French, Smith (G 5/6), Hill, O’Neill, Byrne, Walters, Nsemba,
Ellis.
Subs: Mago, Leeming, Dupree (SB on 4
, Douglas.
18th Man: .
Half-Time: 4-16.
Full-Time: 4-40.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-14, 0-16, 4-16 : HT: 4-20,
4-22, (SB), 4-26, 4-28, 4-32, 4-34, 4-38, 4-40 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wigan.
Referee: Tom Grant.
