Wigan Under 19s v St Helens Under 19s - Under 19s Academy
Saturday 4th July 2015. Kick Off 2:00pm at Edge Hall Road, Orrell.

Match Report

Matty Peet's side dominated the territory in the first half but after 25 minutes they only had one try to show for it. That came in the 7th Minute with Oliver Gildart scoring and Jake Shorrocks converting for 6-0. Opportunities to improve the score had been wasted with two forward passes towards Jack Higginson on the right wing being disappointing.

Saints had one opportunity first half which came from a long 80 metre break from a Wigan error and they were unlucky not to win a penalty for holding down. But in the end, Wigan got the points their first half dominance of territory deserved with Shorrocks scoring in the 26th Minute and then Gabriel Fell going over three minutes before half time. Shorrocks adding two goals made it 18-0 at the interval.

Wigan should really had made it 20-0 when receiving a penalty twenty seconds before the half time whistle but going for a glory try, Nick Gregson quickly wasted gift points with a terrible offload.

Those two points could have come back to haunt Wigan as Saints remarkably hit Wigan with four tries in the a 12 minute spell after the interval. Wigan meekly knocking on their first possession of the second half set the tone and Wigan being penalised for offside at one kick off and a 40/20 helped Saints get an almighty roll on.

Those four scores made it 22-18 to the visitors and you really could only see one winner now but in saying that, Wigan had been starved of good possession. Ironically, the game turned back Wigan's way though from Saints possession with Oliver Gildart returning an intercept on half way to make it 22-22, Shorrocks missing the extras.

Fifteen minutes still remained but I thought Wigan's forwards really muscled up to help Wigan close the game out better. Brad Lawrence particularly impressed but he wasn't alone.

The big try that was required came on 69 minutes with Higginson finally getting a good pass to go over in the right corner. Shorrocks nailing the conversion off the touchline, to make it 28-22, was a key mental moment as well for both sides.

Wigan were pushing on from this score and added two tries to seal the result. Both came on last tackles with Saints perhaps worrying about the drop goals. First Kyle Shelford took advantage before Gildart capped off an impressive display with a late hat-trick try.

In the end, both sides will look back at periods of disappointment in the game. Saints whole first half and Wigan's first twenty after half time but overall it was a good battle in hot weather. It was certainly the right result with Wigan having been the better side for 60 of the 80 minutes to Saints 20 minutes. If form continues these two should meet again in the Grand Final later in the year but plenty of games to play before then.

Team Sheet

Score Sheet

Scoring and Incident Pattern

Referee

J.Smith