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Two weeks ago after the Hull KR game I said that
"response is key to what you fully make of (that) game" and you have to
say a 28-12 win at Catalan followed by this 36-4 cup result is an
emphatic response. Sometimes you can have good losses and that Hull KR
one could prove to be just that.
In this cup tie, that saw captain Sean O'Loughlin
return for the first time since February, Wigan were at it right from
the off. Tries from Sam Powell and Liam Farrell opened up a 12-0 lead
inside ten minutes.
Wigan were then pushing for a third try but didn't
manage to find it. Eventually once interchanges came in, Hull did find
some foothold in the game with Danny Houghton, Chris Satae and Ligi Sao
providing impetus of the bench. Its a mystery, albeit in hindsight, why
those three didn't start.
Whilst Hull were getting into the arm wrestle, Wigan
managed to increase their lead with Bevan French spinning out of a
tackle to finish and make it 16-0 with Hardaker failing to convert this
time.
Wigan then lost both Dom Manfredi and Sam Powell to
head injury assessments on 32 and 34 minutes and they would have been
well content to hold 16-0 to half time to be honest. Hull were putting
pressure on but often ending sets poorly, in particular Jake Connor
looking well out of place at Stand Off.
On one the best traits any side can have though is soaking up
pressure and then going up the other end to score themselves and Wigan
did just that in devastating fashion just before half time. 70 metres
out, Sixty metres out, French and Willie Isa combined to get Hardaker
away down the right and his inside kick back towards French bounced
perfectly for the full backs second try just two minutes before half
time. Conversion made it 22-0 and a more than happy scoreline for Wigan.
But it got better! Hull won a short kick off to give
them ball as time was expunging but they reached 40:00 on the clock
without realising so and thus in hearing the hooter began offloading
wildly. Too wildly! Ball to ground and Joe Burgess scoops up for a 75
metre sprint for our fifth try of the half. Hardaker missed the kick but
26-0 was a tremendous lead that had highlighted Wigan's ruthlessness in
attack because the actual game stats were pretty even bar the only one
that matters - the scoreboard!
Second half was just a case of how easy or hard Wigan
would make the victory and baring in mind they had a third head injury
assessment loss of Thomas Leuluai, whilst not choosing to return Sam
Powell they only had one interchange on the bench for most of the second
half.
That didn't stop Liam Farrell claiming a second try
before Oliver Gildart wrapped up Wigan's scoring for 36-0 with thirteen
minutes to go.
Hull did find a consolation score eventually from
Mahe Fonua but given the lack of interchange options it would be harsh
to complain about not getting the nil. |
