Wigan Warriors have defeated London Skolars 28-10 in the 2015 Capital Challenge at the HAC ground in the City of London this afternoon.
In a game played in four quarters in front of City of London office workers, the Warriors fielded a team of Academy players, and were given a lively challenge by the Skolars, who, playing in their new kit for the first time, came back well from an 18-0 half-time deficit to score the same number of points as their visitors in the second half.
Wigan took a six-point lead after four minutes, when Jack Wells grounded Jamie Doran’s grubber and Jake Moore added the goal.
Moore then scored from a Doran break and added the conversion, and it was Moore’s kick that led to substitute Liam Paisley touching down for Wigan’s third try after 34 minutes, with Moore again adding the goal.
The Skolars fought back after the break however, with Gavin Rodden touching down, and Spurr adding the goal.
But Paisley scored his second try for Wigan from close to the line, and this time Moore couldn’t add the goal.
Aaron Small closed the gap to 12 points when he touched down after a high kick had caused confusion in the Wigan defence.
But Wigan completed the scoring five minutes from time when Jack Wells went over from a pass by Gabriel Fell, with Ryan Haughton adding the final points of the game.
A full report with photographs will feature in Monday’s edition of Rugby League Express, and it will form part of a feature on the prospects for Rugby League in London in the game’s new era.
