Warriors show fighting spirit
Wigan battled back from an early 10-point deficit to beat Wakefield 28-17 at Belle Vue in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.
Last Updated: 10/05/09 11:15am
Wigan battled back from an early 10-point deficit to beat Wakefield 28-17 at Belle Vue in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.
The Warriors just about deserved their win after a sloppy start and defended impressively after conceding 10 points inside the first six minutes.
Wakefield led three times but ultimately Wigan had just a bit too much power and control up front for the Wildcats.
The hosts were not helped by a number of second half knock-ons - notably by Oliver Wilkes and Jason Demetriou - which gifted Wigan crucial possession.
The Warriors made an inauspicious start, failing to deal with the kick-off, but they survived that set only for Stuart Fielden to knock on inside his own 20.
Moments later a fine long pass from Jamie Rooney found Jason Demetriou, who evaded Andy Coley's attentions to score in the corner.
Worse was to follow for the visitors as Pat Richards' kick-off went straight into touch and moments later Danny Brough's short pass put Tevita Leo-Latu over by the posts, Brough himself adding the extras.
Richards looked to have redeemed himself on nine minutes, touching down in the corner, only for the try to be chalked off by the video ref for Coley stripping the ball in a three-man tackle.
Flowing move
But Wigan did get on the board five minutes later, a flowing move ending with Richards collecting a bouncing ball on the left wing and slipping it inside for George Carmont to score
The Warriors were taking charge of the game by this stage and after Gareth Hock burst through the middle, he offloaded to Thomas Leuluai and the Kiwi World Cup winner put Michael McIlorum in under the sticks. Richards kicked the goal and the scores were level at 10-10.
Such was the strength of Wigan's defence by now that Brough decided to go for a one-pointer on 28 minutes, slotting the drop-goal from 40 metres out.
But Wigan had the last word in the half as skipper Sean O'Loughlin bounced off Brad Drew to break through the middle and full-back Cameron Phelps was on his shoulder to take the pass and sprint in unopposed under the posts.
The Warriors looked set to take control after the break, but once again the game swung back towards Wakefield as Brough slid in a superb grubber kick under the sticks and Tony Martin colected to touch down. Brough's conversion put Wakefield ahead 17-16 but that was the high water mark for the hosts.
In the final quarter of the game Wigan began to make plenty of yardage, particularly up the middle, and they had the lead again when Sam Obst went too high on Stuart Fielden and slid off the former Great Britain prop, Fielden diving over for just his third try in Wigan colours.
Clincher
After Wilkes knocked-on inside own half, Richards just failed to take a Sam Tomkins high bomb on the Wakefield line, but on 74 minutes the Aussie winger set up the game-clinching try.
He broke down the left and was stopped just short, but the Wakefield defence was in disarray and a couple of tackles later Tomkins jinked his way over to secure Wigan's place in the last eight.
