Warrington ends the first day of the Magic Weekend in style

Warrington brought the curtain down on the first day of the Magic Weekend at Anfield in style with a resounding 26-14 win over Wigan.

Man of Steel Mayor Blake Austin scored the decisive try as Wolves claimed their third win of the season against the reigning champions, further atoning for their 2018 Grand Final defeat.

This was the ninth meeting between the two rivals in the last 18 months, but fans clearly don’t believe you can have too much of a good thing as Liverpool drew crowds of 30,057 for the three opening day matches, which is going very a lot. to allay fears of a record low turnout.

Wigan were level at 8-8 after 52 minutes, but for the second week in a row they faded badly as they conceded 16 points in the final 26 minutes and with it their best Magic Weekend record against Huddersfield, after losing for the third time in 13 points. – road matches.

Warrington manager Steve Price will have been delighted with the way his side responded to their home defeat at Hull, especially without England full-back Stefan Ratchford, who consolidated their second place in the table.

The Warriors fielded a makeshift side with captain Sean O’Loughlin and Jake Shorrocks taking the starting positions at stand-off and hooker in the absence of specialists Thomas Leulai and Sam Powell.

Their injury woes continued with the loss of second-rower Joe Greenwood before the break for the second consecutive week, this time with suspected broken ribs.

A sharp opening was overshadowed by Wigan taking the lead with a penalty from Zak Hardaker in the 17th minute, but Mo Salah would have been proud to be linked with the first try of the game.

Warrington winger Tom Lineham showed some neat footwork, twice firing forward for midfielder Dec Patton to touch down.

Patton converted his own try and added a penalty in the 34th minute to make it 8-2, which was the half-time score.

Wigan were indebted to Hardaker for keeping his side in the game, preventing what looked like a certain try, forcing the ball clear from Wolves forward Ben Murdoch-Masila as he made a charge for the line.

The former Leeds and Castleford full-back was then at the heart of the Warriors’ impressive start to the half.

A fumble by Warrington wing Josh Charnley inside his own 20-yard box gave his old club the perfect attacking position, which they did not waste.

Shorrocks was held up after a dart for the line and in the next play winger Joe Burgess took a cut-out pass from George Williams to cross in the corner.

Hardaker was unable to add the difficult conversion but leveled the scores in the 52nd minute with a penalty following another Warrington handling error, this time by substitute Jason Clark.

With the game in the balance, it took a flash of inspiration from Austin to swing it once again in Wolves’ favor as the former Canberra stand-off slotted from wide receiver through the heart of Wigan’s defense for his 16th try his. season.

Patton’s third goal made it 14-8 and the game was put beyond the Warriors’ reach on the hour mark when Charnley scooped up a loose ball and sent Toby King up the middle for an 80-yard try.

Patton added the conversion once more and kicked two more penalties to extend the lead to 22-8 before Wigan grabbed a late consolation try through Willie Isa.

Patton then completed the scoring with a fourth penalty, his seventh successful kick in as many attempts.