Wigan Warriors v Whitehaven. Carnegie Challenge Cup Round 5.
Monday 12th May 2008. Kick Off 7:30pm at JJB Stadium.

Thoughts on the Match

Well with a final score of 106-8 their isn't much you can say.

Sam Tomkins - what a debut. He was like the spark when you flick the ignition on a gas cooker. Ok it was against weak opposition but to score five tries and an hatrick inside just 13 minutes on your debut is outstanding. Every break he was there in support and had a good turn of pace - something that is lacking very much in our side. I wouldn't drop him even on that show - at least in my view he is worth a place on the subs bench.

Feka Paleaaesina was also immense tonight. He topped his night off with a late run which saw him barge many defenders over in a 60 metre dash. His head gear was left on our own 30 as he went towards Whitehaven's 30. He didn't score from that run but did manage the first and last tries of the night.

Have to say though I thought our performance dropped when Stuart Fielden replaced Feka on 20 minutes. We went from scoring 7 tries in Feka's spell to just one. Maybe a coincidence I dunno but I suppose its harsh to criticise as it was a complete non event.

The result is Wigan's highest ever win against a professional side and only the second time in history that they topped 100 points. The only other time they hit a century was when they beat amateurs Flimby & Fothergill United 116-0 on 14th February 1925 (that was under 3 points for a try). Sam Tomkins 13 minute hatrick is not a club record. Attie Van Heerden scored 3 in the first 12 minutes that day v Flimby,

Pat Richards just fell short of beating Jim Sullivan's long standing most points in a match record which dates back to that Flimby & Fothergill game. Pat's 38 was just shy of Sullivan's 44 points - It also trails 40 points in a match by Martin Offiah and Shaun Edwards back in 1992 when they both scored a record 10 tries in matches against Leeds and Swinton respectively. No doubt in my mind though that Pat would have blitzed that record had he played out on the wing - because he'd had scored a lot more than 1 try to add to his 17 goals.

This was also Whitehaven's heaviest ever defeat - there previous worst was also inflicted by Wigan when we won 98-4 at the JJB in February 2000.

Team Sheets

Score Sheet

Scoring and Incident Pattern

Video Highlights

Referee

Richard Silverwood

Penalties Conceded

Wigan 5 Whitehaven 8

Match Attendance

3,814

Weather

Lovely sunny night.