Warriors outclass Red Devils

[Warriors News]

• Match report as Wigan Warriors beat Salford Red Devils at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
• A Bevan French masterclass helps Adrian Lam’s side to a handsome victory.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 58-12 Salford Red Devils.

A Bevan French hat-trick helped Wigan to a memorable victory over Salford at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday evening.

The Cherry and Whites put on nine tries and notched up 58 points in their biggest win of the 2020 season so far.

The win helps further cement Wigan’s place in the top four of the Betfred Super League, holding second place in the table.

Wigan made a rip-roaring start, with Sam Powell grabbing the first try of the game in just the second minute. In vintage Powell style, the hooker powered over from dummy-half to touch down among a flurry of Salford defenders.

Powell was again on the scoresheet in the 15^th minute, and again catching the Red Devils’ defensive line on their heels by running from dummy half to score.

The Warriors struck back almost immediately after the restart through the experienced Liam Farrell in the 17^th minute. A break down the left flank by Joe Burgess drew the Salford full-back out wide, Farrell provided support inside and ran home an excellent try. 

Lam’s men got their fourth of the evening via a slick move in the 26^th minute, with full-back Bevan French grabbing his 11^th try of the season. A superb break on halfway from Jake Bibby created a one-on-one with stand-in full-back Tui Lolohea. Bibby was able to find the supporting French and release the Australian to score under the posts.

Salford posted their first score of the game in the 30^th minute through centre Kallum Watkins. Joey Lussick, filling in at half-back, fed the on-rushing Watkins to score in the corner.

French grabbed a second of the game in ridiculous fashion in the 35th. Showing a dummy on halfway, the full-back cut through four Salford defenders like a hot knife through butter to score under the posts.

The Red Devils put on the first score of the second-half in the 44^th minute through Lolohea. A series of offloads kept the ball alive for Ian Watson’s side, resulting in the Tongan international touching down.

It took just two minutes for the Warriors to strike back, with half-back Jackson Hastings scoring his first of the evening. A flowing right-edge move involving Willie Isa and Bevan French concluded with an inside ball to Hastings, who galloped through to score under the uprights.

Centre Oliver Gildart got in on the action in the 51^st thanks to more fantastic support play by French. The Englishman latched onto a left-edge attack and scored dramatically in the corner.

Farrell bagged his second of the evening in the 56^th courtesy of a well-timed short ball from Powell, the second-row running in his tenth of the season.

French rounded off a fantastic hat-trick in the 66^th, taking a short ball from Hastings and using his raw pace to zip through the middle of the Salford line to score under the posts.

Gildart put a cherry on top of the win in the 78^th minute with his second of the game. A tricky grubber from Hastings found the on-rushing centre to touch down.

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Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Jake Bibby, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Jackson Hastings, Tommy Leuluai, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Brad Singleton, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Oliver Partington

Interchanges: Ben Flower, Tony Clubb, Joe Greenwood, Morgan Smithies

Tries: Powell (2’, 15’), Farrell (17’, 56’), French (26’, 35’, 66’), Hastings (46’), Gildart (51’, 78’)

Conversions: Hardaker (9/10)

Salford Red Devils: Oliver Ashall-Bott, Rhys Williams, Kallum Watkins, Elliot Kear, Krisnan Inu, Tui Lolohea, Chris Atkin, Lee Mossop, Joey Lussick, Luke Yates, Oliver Roberts, James Greenwood, Tyrone McCarthy.

Interchanges: Andy Ackers, Mark Flanagan, Greg Burke, Pauli Pauli.

Tries: Watkins (30’), Lolohea (44′)

Conversions: Inu (2/2)

Referee: Chris Kendall

Video Ref: Robert Hicks

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