Warriors Defeated in Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final

• Match report as Wigan Warriors Wheelchair went down to defeat against Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final.
• The Warriors scored through Declan Roberts and Adam Rigby in Sheffield.
• FT | Catalans Dragons 81-18 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors were beaten 81-18 by Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup final at the English Institute of Sport.

Despite scoring through Declan Roberts and Adam Rigby in a historic first Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final appearance, Warriors were no match for a Catalans Dragons side who lifted the trophy for the second consecutive year.

Report

The holders put pressure on the Warriors defense in the early stages, however, Wigan stood firm to keep the Catalans out, with Jack Heggie producing a fantastic tackle on his try line.

The Catalans opened the scoring on six minutes when Bourson acrobatically slotted home in the corner despite the best efforts of the Warriors’ defence, before Nico Claussells slotted home soon after to extend the lead to 10-0.

A fluid move by the Catalans led to a Vargas cross in the corner before Bourson scored his side’s second and fourth tries of the afternoon to make it 22-0 on 14 minutes.

The Warriors closed the gap on their first visit to the Catalans’ tryline when D. Roberts weaved fantastically through a gap to score between the sticks before Adam Rigby scored four minutes later. D. Roberts added both conversions to make it 22-12 after 20 minutes.

An even battle played out in Sheffield, with each team up for grabs before the Catalans restored their 22-point lead with back-to-back tries in three minutes. First, N. Claussells collected a shot to race in and score before Bourson completed his hat-trick on 32 minutes after speeding free on the wing.

The Catalans extended their 34-12 half-time lead to 46-12 after Seb Bechara crossed for two tries in the space of nine minutes, with Giles Clausells adding both scores.

G.Clausells then kicked a drop goal to make it 47-12 before Vargas and Bourson scored two tries in quick succession to extend the Catalans’ lead to 59-12 as Wigan had a big mountain to climb in the final.

The Catalans’ threat continued to emerge and Vargas crossed again on the hour before Dore got his name on the scoresheet after making a move through the Warriors defense to go over from close range.

Despite Bechara completing his hat-trick on 72 minutes after going full length, the Warriors added six points to their tally when the ball fell kindly into the hands of Rigby, who put to the ground the second between the sticks. Heggie added a layup to make it 75-18 with two minutes remaining.

The Catalans crossed for the last try of the final with 30 seconds remaining when Bechara’s short pass allowed N. Clausells to complete his hat-trick. The extras were added as the Dragons lifted the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup trophy for the second consecutive year.

Gallery:

Catalan Dragons: Nico Clauselles, Arno Vargas, Jeremy Bourson, Joel Lacombe, Damien Dore.

Exchanges: Victor Puly, Gilles Clausells, Seb Bechara.

Try: Bourson (6′, 14′, 33′, 58′), N. Clausells (8′, 29′, 79′), Vargas (12′, 56′, 60′), Bechara (41′, 49′, 71 ′) ′), Dore (63′).

Objectives: N. Clauseslls (5/6), G. Clausells (7/7), Bechara (1/1).

Drop Goals: G. Clausells (1/1).

Wigan Warriors: Chris Greenhalgh, Jack Heggie, Declan Roberts, Adam Rigby, Phil Roberts.

Exchanges: Martin Lane, Nathan Roberts, Mark Williams.

Try: Roberts (17′), Rigby (20′, 78′).

Objectives: D. Roberts (2/2), Heggie (1/1).