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WIGAN proved that despite the sale of Martin Offiah they still have plenty
of big guns to call upon. The Riversiders still have talent in abundance
and two of their leading youngsters Henry Paul and Andy Farrell produced
enough firepower to blast the Eagles out of sight.
The duo were in a different class to the Yorkshiremen and made it tell
with a devastating performance of pace and power to close the gap back to
just one point behind leaders St Helens.
Coach Graeme West was delighted with the way his side had responded
saying: "They played very well. They have been improving for the last
couple of games, but it all seemed to come together.
"It was very pleasing to see the team spirit and that showed by the way
they worked together. It keeps the pressure on St Helens for the remaining
three games."
Three tries in the first-half paved the way for victory. Paul grabbed
the first when he pounced on a loose ball, then Jason Robinson jinked his
way over before Simon Haughton crashed through the defensive line. Farrell
added three goals, while the Eagles reply was a try just before the break
by John Lawless and two Mark Aston goals.
Gary Connolly quickly extended their lead after the break before Paul
scored a brilliant individual try from 50 yards. Craig Murdock grabbed
another before his replacement Shaun Edwards got on the scoresheet. Martin
Hall and Danny Ellison completed the rout with Farrell maintaining 100 per
cent accuracy with another six goals. The Eagles could only manage a Jean
Garcia try.
WIGAN: Radlinski, Robinson, Tuigamala, Connolly, Ellison, Paul,
Murdock, Cowie, Hall, O'Connor, Haughton, Cassidy, Farrell. Subs: Skerrett
(for Cowie 22), Barrow (for Haughton 35), Smyth for (Ellison HT), Ellison
(for Tuigamala 54), Edwards (for Murdock 58) Haughton (for Connolly 63). |
