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Well it's rare that I stick it on the referee but
for the second week in a row I've watched a game spoiled by a
whistle happy referee.
Ganson, who blew penalties 28 times during the game, a new Super League record, was not to blame for that defeat - but I
just felt like the game never got started. Maybe he was right to
penalise all the decisions (I haven't seen a replay) but maybe the
refs should cut the players some slack. Most of the referees have
been whistle happy this year - mainly due to this new offside rule
which in my opinion wasn't a necessary change to make. There was
nothing wrong with the old rule.
My opinion is that the match officials have become
worse since going professional. It's all gone far too technical.
They are expected to be mind readers as well. In knock on
situations that have to judge whether there was intent. Why? Just
keep it simple - a knock on is a knock on - that way decisions are
easy to make.
Like I said though Ganson wasn't the reason we
lost. The red card was spot on - we were a bit unfortunate to be
already down to twelve when it happened but good spirit to keep
fighting on to the end.
Where Wigan lost it was in the first half. Both
sides got equal amounts of chances from penalties - difference was
Warrington punished most of them - Wigan didn't. We had plenty of
territory but looked clueless in attack.
In the end because of the stop start nature of the
game I don't think we learned anything about either side.
Warrington didn't impress me that much but arguably they weren't
allowed to with the stop start nature of the match. In the end it
was just a game to forget about and move on from. |
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Wigan Warriors Halliwell Jones Stadium hoodoo
continued on Saturday as they lost 32-20 to the Warrington Wolves.
Wigan hve yet to win at this venue and it was the home side who
secured the two Super League points once more.
The Wolves went 10-0 up and were leading 16-4 at the interval. The
Warriors would have been looking for the first try of the second
half. Unfortunately, Richard Mathers was sent off for catching
Matt King in a high tackle and with McIlorum in the sin bin, Wigan
were down to just eleven and the Wolves scored two further quick
tries to put the game realistically beyond Brian Noble’s men.
It took Warrington just three minutes to break the deadlock,
Michael Monaghan with a perfect pass into the hands of Vinnie
Anderson close to the Wigan line, that after the Wolves had been
awarded two quick penalties and the home side had the confidence
to look for a try rather than the easier two point penalty option.
Anderson’s try was converted by Briers, 6-0.
Wigan looked for a response on 10 minutes, a Barrett high kick to
the corner found Liam Colbon on the final tackle close to the line
but he was held by King and Johnson.
On 16 minutes a tackle by Barrett on Clarke was put on report by
referee Steve Ganson.
The Wolves were in for their second try on 18 minutes, Louis
Anderson doing well to off load in the tackle, Monaghan found King
and the big centre had the power to touch down. This time Briers
missed the extras, 10-0.
Louis Anderson was then sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for
holding in the tackle, the Wolves down to twelve men. Wigan were
in a good position to press but a poor pass from Leuluai was
mishandled by Barrett and an opportunity was lost.
The Warriors finally broke through on 29 minutes, Barrett with a
defence splitting pass out to the right and Liam Colbon found some
space to dive in at the corner. Richards goal attempt was just
wide, 10-4.
The Wolves were denied a try on 34 minutes in the corner through
Hicks, great defensive work by Mathers, Leuluai and Hock bundling
the winger out of play just before he grounded the ball.
It wasn't too long before the Wolves had scored though, Rob Parker
powering over from close range, Briers had a simple conversion in
front of the posts, 16-4 as the half drew to a close with just
three minutes left.
Six minutes into the second half and it was the turn of Wigan’s
Michael McIlorum to spend ten minutes in the sin bin for not
allowing the home side to play the ball.
Wigan were then reduced to 11 men on 50 minutes and this time it
was a red card to the full back Richard Mathers for a high tackle
on King as he caught the centre, Steve Ganson straight to his top
pocket and King required treatment and was forced to leave the
field on a stretcher.
The Wolves took advantage of the player numbers and spread the
ball out to the right and Martin Gleeson was able to score
Warrington’s fourth try of the night, Briers missed the goal,
20-6.
Almost straight after and the home side were in again, this time
Paul Johnson with the try, Wigan still with only eleven on the
field, Briers added the extras, 26-4.
Andy Coley grabbed a try for Wigan under the posts which Richards
converted, 26-10 on 62 minutes.
Chris Hicks scored the home sides sixth try on 67 minutes which
Briers converted from out , 32-10.
Credit to those in cherry and white, Wigan kept battling and
Darrell Goulding crossed for a try on 73 minutes in the corner
which Richards missed a difficult conversion, 32-14. Then Harrison
Hansen touched down with just a couple of minutes left for Wigan's
fourth try, Richards added the goal and it finished 32-20.
So the Warriors have won three of their opening five games but
have still yet to win at the HJ Stadium. |
