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Poor game. Really poor game. For long periods this was boring stuff
but Wigan got the job done with ease. 48 points on the board and I
think they were only playing at about 50% pace.
I know some fans remain disappointed that we can't kick on and
get 60-70 points up on teams but the reality is that it doesn't
really matter. Two points is two points. And you can only rack
those kind of scores up if the opposition rolls over and dies and
Wakefield didn't do that. They came, they had a good dig, but you
knew as soon as we went 12-0 up that this game was never going to
be lost.
Michael Maguire decided to rest Joel Tomkins, Thomas Leuluai and
Ryan Hoffman for this game with George Carmont and Sean O'Loughlin
both returning after sitting out the Harlequins trip last weekend.
Recent signing Ben Cross made his debut off the subs bench. Very,
perhaps a bit over, enthusiastic when he came on but he did ok.
The man of this game though was Gareth Hock who made his first
start since his return from drug suspension. He was clear man of
the match for me after completing a great hat-trick late in the
match.
His first try came in the 4th minute. Paul Deacon's pass to him
was right on the money as he burst through the gap. Pat Richards
converted for 6-0.
That lead was soon doubled as I was getting a pint in at the
bar. Best try of the night I'm told. Brett Finch with the break,
Hock was in support and he sent George Carmont over. Bit of a
pisser for me as I was on Carmont for first try and he bloody goes
and scores second! Typical! Pat converted for 12-0.
After that, Wakefield had a good spell in which they should
really have levelled the scores. They did get one try back when
Josh Griffin scored on a repeat set after a drop out. It was a
messy try but they all count. Ex Wigan academy youngster Josh
Veivers added the extras to make it 12-6.
Like I said, Wakefield should really have got another try but
you have to credit Wigan's last gasp defence in denying them on
three occasions. First chance came for Griffin again. He had broke
down his right wing and looked like he would go all the way from 70
metres out but Carmont managed to just about stop him with an ankle
tap. Wigan were on the back foot though and it took a brilliant one
on one stop from Sam Tomkins to deny Frankie Mariano from scoring.
The Wakefield player tried to power through Sam but he was having
none of it. Then Sam denied Jeremy Smith a try by holding him up
over the line. All Wakefield got for that effort was a drop out but
they wasted it with a knock on.
It proved to be a double whammy for Wakefield because, from that
error, Wigan went up the other end of the field and claimed their
third try. Brett Finch and Sam Tomkins combined to send Pat over in
the left corner, his conversion making it 18-6 on 31 minutes.
That was the first of a trio of tries in a six minute
spell. The second try saw an offload from Finch send Sam over from
close range before Sam himself turned provider for the third score.
Great effort this one. Sam made a half break down the right and
showing how switched on he is in the head, he hacked the ball on
from about 40 metres out into empty space. It was a perfectly
weighted kick but Josh Charnley had work to do in chasing down the
ball. It was a shoulder to shoulder battle with a defender but Josh
won the race and slid over for the try. Pat kept up his 100%
kicking to make it 30-6 at half time.
Into the second half and for 20 minutes, literally,
bugger all happened. That was until around the hour mark when Jeff
Lima, with help from Paul Deacon I think, smashed Michael Korkidas
out cold. It was a fair hit and although he left the field after
about three minutes of treatment, he did return later.
The game needed a spark and it came from Sam on 65
minutes. A classy, classy try he scored all by himself. Close to
the line he's making a diagonal run from the left towards the
posts. Again showing what a brain he has, he spots a gap, grubbers
into it and collects to score himself. Your not telling me that boy
wonder Richie Myler produces stuff like that? He's not in the same
class as our Sam! Easy Pat conversion made it 36-6.
That effort broke Wakefield's spirit and this led to
two more Wigan scores before full time. First on 68 minutes Hock
claimed his second with another pass from Deacon hitting his angled
run perfectly. Pat converted for 42-6.
Then with three minutes to go he claimed his hat-trick
try. From deep, George Carmont made the initial yards before Sam
broke clear up the middle. He was eventually halted but Wigan had
too many men over and it was Hock who managed to finish it off. I
also had George Carmont for last try on the betting slip so shame
on Hock for being a greedy bastard and not giving it to him on a
plate! Pat converted to complete the scoring and a very easy 48-6
Wigan win.
That was actually the first hat-trick of Gareth Hock's
Wigan career and on this evidence it looks like the old Hock is
back! Hope he can produce it again next week against Warrington!
Wigan will have to play better than this to beat them, but they'll
know that! Bring it on! |
