WIGAN WARRIORS 50 CATALANS DRAGONS 12
DAVID KUZIO, The Brick Community Stadium, Friday

LIAM FARRELL took centre stage as he lifted his last piece of silverware at The Brick Community Stadium with  Wigan’s third League Leaders Shield win in the past four years.

Farrell announced earlier in the week that he would be retiring at the end of the season, and although he might still have a role to play in the semi-final and Grand Final if Wigan get there – this will be the last time lifting a trophy at home.

The Wigan team all warmed up with ‘Faz 12’ t-shirts before the game and as soon as he was introduced to a rapturous applause, Bevan French was determined to get him what everyone wanted to see – a try – and he did that at the third attempt.

That try made it 24-6 at the break and further tries from Austin Daniel, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran and a second for Liam Marshall completed a convincing win.

After a lacklustre opening five minutes, Wigan set up on Catalans line and posted the first points with Harry Smith throwing a dummy to cross over. Adam Keighran converted to make it 6-0.

But it was the Dragons who silenced the home crowd moments later, with Ugo Tison getting on the end of a break down the right. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet converted to level the scores.

Catalans’ dam eventually broke, however, and the Warriors went over for their second try in the 22nd minute. Smith, Jai Field and Zach Eckersley all combined with the latter sending Marshall over for his 183rd Wigan career try. Keighran made it 12-6.

It was all Wigan now and Brad O’Neill went over from close range after Patrick Mago went close. Keighran converted to make it 18-6 for a comfortable lead.

By now the hosts were full of confidence as Farrell was introduced in the 33rd minute and almost broke through with his first touch following a pass from French. The number 6 then tried to get the ball to Farrell again near the line but it was intercepted by Nick Cotric,

Wigan worked hard in defence in the closing five minutes of the half to keep the Dragons to just six points, but French then delivered the pass to Farrell as the second-rower ran a good line and French put him through a massive gap to score to put the Warriors 24-6 ahead at the break.

And the Warriors showed no signs of taking the foot off the gas as they extended their lead in the 48th minute. French was continuing to cause Catalans problems and he took on their line before firing a long pass for Daniel to cross.

French was running the show and his kick back inside towards the posts was almost collected by Field, but the Dragons grounded it for a dropout.

He would then put Farrell through another gap as the latter kept his composure to offload to Field. The fullback was caught by Makinson but still managed to touch down near the corner. That try for Field took his Wigan points tally to 400 and was his final involvement at 36-6.

Wigan made it a more miserable night for the Dragons with Eckersley and Keighran both scoring before Marshall ticked the hosts over the half-century.

Farrell missed the conversion attempt, but the Dragons had the final say with Alexis Lis finishing off a good move to score.

GAMESTAR: It was all about Liam Farrell and he did not disappoint with a try and assist on his return from injury.

GAMEBREAKER: Brad O’Neill’s try just minutes after Liam Marshall had made it 12-6 broke Catalans spirit and they were second best from that moment onwards.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: The move for Jai Field’s try was sublime. The combination between Bevan French and Liam Farrell was perfection and Field finished it off.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Liam Farrell (Wigan)
2 pts Bevan French (Wigan)
1 pt Brad O’Neill (Wigan)

MATCHFACTS

WARRIORS
1 Jai Field
38 Austin Daniel
3 Adam Keighran
2 Zach Eckersley
5 Liam Marshall
6 Bevan French
7 Harry Smith
8 Ethan Havard
9 Brad O’Neill
10 Luke Thompson
11 Junior Nsemba
17 Oliver Partington
13 Kaide Ellis
Subs (all used)
12 Liam Farrell
14 Sam Walters
15 Patrick Mago
25 Taylor Kerr
18th man (not used)
23 Kian McDermott
Also in 21-man squad
20 Sam Eseh
37 Josh Cartwright
41 Shea O’Connor

Tries: Smith (6), Marshall (22), O’Neill (25), Farrell (40), Daniel (48), Field (59), Eckersley (69), Keighran (75)
Goals: Keighran 7/8

DRAGONS
25 Lenny Marc
28 Léo Darrélatour
27 Clément Martin
3 Nick Cotric
2 Tommy Makinson
24 Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet
7 Lewis Dodd
16 Josh Allen
26 Ugo Tison
17 Romain Navarrete
13 Ben Garcia
21 Matthieu Laguerre
10 Julian Bousquet
Subs (all used)
11 Franck Maria
18 Harvey Wilson
29 Geovanni Descalzi
30 Alexis Lis
18th man (not used)
35 Mickael Goudemand
Also in 21-man squad
1 Charlie Staines
6 Toby Sexton
32 Adrian Delarose

Tries: Tison (12), Lis (80)
Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 1/1, Garcia 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 18.6, 24-6; 30-6, 36-6, 40-6, 46-6, 50-6, 50-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Warriors: Liam Farrell; Dragons: Ugo Tison

Penalty count: 7-2
Half-time: 24-6
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Attendance: 19,049