Saints get their first Reserves win of the year with a 24-25 Derby win!
First Half
It took 15 minutes for the first score of the game, coming the way of the Saints. A good defensive set forced the Warriors to kick from within their own half, but a charge down from Moses Mbye saw the ball fly towards the Wigan line. Mbye collected the ball off the floor, before dummying and toying with the Warriors defence chasing back to score near the right corner. George Whitby stepped up, and converted the try to put the Saints ahead, 0-6.
Six minutes later, Wigan levelled the game. Dayon Sambou tried to beat Wigan on the outside, but he was forced into touch, presenting Wigan with a full set in the Saints half. The Warriors shift to the right to Nathan Lowe saw him find his wingman Jacob Douglas who dove over in the corner. Lowe converted from the side-line to level the score, 6-6.
It didn’t take long for the Saints to respond and take back the lead. A great defensive set forces Wigan to cough up possession in their own half and a chance to hit back for the Saints. A shift to the left saw Ben Davies nearly crash over, before finding an offload to Reilly Cosgrove who skipped back infield to find Jake Davies who got down low to topple over the Wigan defence to ground the ball. Whitby converted from the left once again, 12-6 at the break
Second Half
Wigan replied shortly after kick-off. A penalty for a ball steal allowed Wigan into Saints territory. And after a few carries towards the line, a shift to the left saw Austin Daniel cross for Wigan. Sambou was sin-binned for a late hit, and an eight point try was awarded. Lowe missed his first attempt out wide but converted from under the sticks to level the score, 12-12.
48 minutes on the clock, and Wigan took the lead. With momentum on there on side, Taylor Kerr broke through the line on halfway, where he had Lukas Mason in support who scored under the posts. Lowe kicked the goal from in front of the posts, 18-12.
Five minutes later, the Saints drew level through Ben Davies. A great carry from Matthew Evans got earned the Saints a penalty as the Warriors defence stole the ball. Close the line, the Saints attacked the short side left, where B. Davies got the ball and charged at the line, stepping past one defender and getting over the top to score. Whitby converted, 18-18.
Sambou re-entered the field as the players awaited the conversion, but a 13 a-side game didn’t last long. George Hirst committed his second tip tackle of the game following a carry after kick-off, seeing him enter the sin-bin.
With both sides back to a full complement as we entered the last 10 minutes, it was Whitby who stood up and scored to put the Saints ahead. After his kick to the corner was tapped out by Wigan 5 metres from their own line, a full set started on the Wigan line. On the second play, the ball was played left, Whitby ran at the line, dummied and stepped over to score a great try. He converted his own score from next to the posts, 18-24.
Looking for another equalising try, Wigan shifted from right to left, a loose ball was scooped up by Sambou who got the Saints 30 metres out from the Wigan line. Two plays later, Whitby once again stepped up, this time slotting a drop-goal from 25 out putting the Saints ahead by seven, 18-25.
Wigan wouldn’t go down with-out a fight, and crossed with two minutes to go to set up a tense end. A break from their own half, Noah Hodkinson broke the line, finding Douglas in support to score under the posts. Lowe converted, 24-25.
The Saints defended a few frantic plays from Wigan to seal the win, and get their first Reserves win of the season on the board!
Match Summary
Wigan Warriors: 1. Noah Hodkinson, 2. Jacob Douglas, 3. Nathan Lowe, 4. Austin Daniel, 5. Josh Cartwright, 6. Tom Ratchford, 7. Finlay Yeomans, 8. Harvey Makin, 9. Kalum Rathbone, 10. Kian McDermott, 11. George O’Loughlin, 12. Lukas Mason, 13. Taylor Kerr.
Bench: 14. Jack Purtill, 15. Trent Kelly-Duffy, 16. Dylan Kelly-Duffy, 17. George Hirst.
18th Man: 18. Leo Wadsworth.
Tries: Jacob Douglas (21, 78), Austin Daniel (43), Lukas Mason (46),
Goals: Nathan Lowe (4 from 5)
Sin Bin: George Hirst (54)
Saints: 15. Reilly Cosgrove, 2. Elliot Jamieson, 3. Jonny Vaughan, 16. Ben Davies, 5. Dayon Sambou, 1. Moses Mbye, 7. George Whitby, 8. Alfie Sinclair, 9. Jake Burns, 20. Noah Stephens, 11. Harvey Braddish, 17. Jake Davies, 13. James Bell.
Bench: 4. Matthew Penketh, 10. Sam Oakes, 12. Cole Marsh, 18. Matthew Evans.
18th Man: 25. Oliver Garmston.
Tries: Moses Mbye (15), Jake Davies (26), Ben Davies (53), George Whitby (70)
Goals: George Whitby (4 from 4)
Drop Goal: George Whitby (74)
Sin Bin: Dayon Sambou (42)
HT: 6-12
FT: 24-25
