Player ratings as Wigan Warriors beat Hull KR in heated Challenge Cup semi-final – Total Rugby League

VaselineMay 19, 2024

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Player ratings as Wigan Warriors beat Hull KR in heated Challenge Cup semi-final – Total Rugby League

WIGAN WARRIORS beat Hull KR 38-6 in the first Challenge Cup semi-final of the weekend in front of 11,163 at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium.

Warriors were awarded an early penalty after KR was found offside and Wigan duly punished Willie Peters’ side. The ball was moved to the left and Jake Wardle had enough time to crash past Peta Hiku in just the fourth minute. However, Harry Smith could not convert as Wigan led 4-0.

And it was the Warriors who struck within 15 minutes. A brilliant set piece saw Matt Peet’s men run 80 meters before Bevan French sent a chip in for Abbas Miski to grab and put down in brilliant fashion. This time Smith converted to make it 10-0.

Both sides started to make errors and a KR error saw Wigan take their third. Niall Evalds dropped a huge Smith bomb and in the next set Smith sent Junior Nsemba through, who had enough power to ride out Kelepi Tanginoa’s challenge on the half hour. However, Smith could not convert as Wigan were now 14-0 up.

It was 18-0 with six minutes to go as Liam Marshall picked up an error by Joe Burgess and fed Miski under the posts with six minutes to go. Once again Smith could not convert to make it 18-0 with little sign of Rovers inspiring a comeback.

Two tries followed in the space of three minutes as Wigan broke down the left again, Wardle feeding Marshall, with the end of his foot back inside perfectly for Smith to pounce. This time Adam Keighran converted to make it 24-0 at the break.

FOR WAR: HULL KR 24-0 WIGAN WARRIORS

KR needed to score first to have any hope of inspiring a remarkable second-half comeback. However, a Lewis infringement gave Keighran the chance to add two more points – and the Wigan center made it count for a 26-0 lead.

Rovers finally had their first points of the afternoon in the 51st minute when a shot from Tyrone May was palmed back by Lewis into the arms of Joe Burgess who sprinted home. Lewis converted from out to cut the deficit to 20 at 26-6.

However, a mix-up between Hall and Lewis saw Wigan’s kick-off and the Warriors punish their opponents, with Tyler Dupree slotting through the limp defense to snuff out any hopes of a Rovers comeback. Keighran converted for a 32-6 lead.

As if things weren’t bad enough for Rovers, they were reduced to 12 men with 16 minutes to go when Opacic felt fouled by a Keighran challenge.

The KR man attacked the ball game with both Opacic and Keighran yellow carded by referee Chris Kendall.

That didn’t stop Wigan’s rise though, and a wonderful break and flick from Miski landed for Walters, who laid it wide for Wardle to tap home his second. Smith once again took over the batting duties to make it 38-6.

Lewis didn’t deserve to be on the losing side and his delicious break set the stage for Burgess to volley over in the corner with five minutes remaining. However, the winger was adjudged harshly for knocking on as Wigan ran home in emphatic fashion.

Hull KR

2 Niall Evalds – 6
35 Joe Burgess – 4
1 Peta Hiku – 5
3 Tom Opacic – 3
5 Ryan Hall – 5
27 Tyrone May – 5
7 Mikey Lewis – 8
8 Sauaso Sue – 6
9 Jez Litten – 5
16 Jai Whitbread – 5
11 Dean Hadley – 5
12 James Batchelor – 4
13 Elliot Minchella – 5
Substitutes
10 George King – 6
14 Matt Parcell – 6
15 Sam Luckley – 5
20 Kelepi Tanginoa – 7

Tries: Burgess (51)
Goals: Lewis 1/1
Sinbin: Opaque (64) – hit

Wigan Warriors
1 Jai Field – 9
2 Abbas Miski – 8
3 Adam Keighran – 6
4 Jake Wardle – 9
5 Liam Marshall – 7
6 Bevan French – 8
7 Harry Smith – 8
8 Ethan Havard – 7
9 Brad O’Neill – 6
16 Luke Thompson – 9
21 Junior Nsemba – 8
12 Liam Farrell – 7
13 Kaide Ellis – 7
Substitutes
15 Patrick Mago – 6
17 Kruise Leeming – 6
19 Tyler Dupree – 7
22 Sam Walters – 6