Warriors overcome Dragons test

[Warriors News]

• Match report as Wigan Warriors return to winning ways over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.
• Tries from Gildart, Powell, French and two for Joe Burgess.
• FT | Catalans Dragons 12-28 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.

Playing in front of a socially-distant crowd of 5,000 fans in the South of France, Adrian Lam’s men impressed in both attack and defence to overcome a tough Dragons opposition.

It didn’t take long for the first try to arrive, with Oliver Gildart bagging his first of the season in the corner in the 8^th minute. A slick Wigan left-edge move involving Jackson Hastings and Liam Farrell was finished well by the Englishman.

After dealing with a huge spell of pressure from Catalans, Wigan counter-punched and bagged a second try of the game in the 30^th minute. A looping wide pass from Hastings released Gildart, who then found Joe Burgess. The winger covered 40 metres to drop a ball inside for the supporting Bevan French who scored under the posts.

Creator-turned-scorer on the stroke of half-time when Hastings took advantage of a dropped ball by Catalans. The half-back quickly found Burgess, who galloped home for the third Warriors try.

Adrian Lam’s side added two more points to the scoreboard before half-time with Zak Hardaker kicking a penalty to take the scores to 0-18 at the break.

The first exchanges of the second half brought the first sin-bin of the R12 bout, with Joe Greenwood being sent to the bin for infringement in the play of the ball.

Joe Burgess grabbed his second of the game against the run of play in the 53^rd minute. A free-flowing move with the ball being shifted from coast to coast ended in an assist from Oliver Gildart.

The Cherry and Whites added another try in the 72^nd through hooker Sam Powell. The 28-year-old latched onto a short ball from Ethan Havard, rolled the onrushing defender and touched down.

The home side registered their first score of the game in the 74^th through forward Julian Bousquet. The prop latched onto a short ball to cross under the posts.

Catalans snatched a second on the stroke of full-time through left-winger Fouad Yaha going over in the corner. Maloney added the extras to bring the final scores to 12-28.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

MATCH ACTION

Catalans Dragons: Sam Tomkins, Lewis Tierney, Samisoni Langi, Israel Folau, Fouad Yaha, James Maloney, Lucas Albert, Remi Casty, Alrix Da Costa, Julian Bousquet, Matthew Whitley, Joel Tomkins, Ben Garcia.

Interchanges: Ben Jullien, Mickael Goudemand, Jason Baitieri, Sam Kasiano

Tries: Bousquet (74’), Yaha (80’)

Conversions: Maloney (2/2)

Penalties:

Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Dom Manfredi, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Tommy Leuluai, Jackson Hastings, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Ethan Havard, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Oliver Partington.

Interchanges: George Burgess Joe Greenwood, Joe Shorrocks, Harry Smith.

Tries: Gildart (8’), French (30’), J. Burgess (37’, 53’), Powell (72’)

Conversions: Hardaker (3/5)

Penalties: Hardaker (39’)

Yellow cards: Greenwood (43’)

Referee: Chris Kendall

Video Referee: Robert Hicks

The post Warriors overcome Dragons test appeared first on Wigan Warriors Blog.

View the full article