Widnes 26-28: Warriors battle back for glory

Match Stats

Widnes tries: White (20), Craven (27), Armstrong (37), Marsh (44)
Penalties/conversions: Hanbury (20,27,37,49,54) 

Wigan tries: Leuluai (12), Gildart (30,74), Burgess (60,72), Tierney (66)
Penalties/conversions: Escare (12,30) 

Match Report

Wigan recovered from a 14-point deficit to beat Widnes 28-26 in a controversially and hastily-rearranged Betfred Super League clash at Widnes. 

The newly-crowned world club champions were supposed to host the Vikings on Friday only for the game to be called off following Thursday's storms, and then switched to the Select Security Stadium at short notice.

The circumstances surrounding the initial cancellation are to be investigated by the Rugby Football League, but the Warriors put the issue aside with a thrilling late fightback.

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A Wigan win seemed unlikely after the hour, as Widnes led 26-12 after tries from Lloyd White, Danny Craven, Tom Armstrong and Stefan Marsh.

But the visitors hit back with two tries from Joe Burgess, another from Lewis Tierney and a late winner from Oliver Gildart, his second of the night.

Wigan had taken an early lead when Thomas Leuluai dummied and beat two defenders to crash over.

Widnes responded well and replied with two tries in quick succession during a spell of sustained pressure. Chris Bridge offloaded to send White over for the first before the Vikings carved open the Warriors line for Craven to race in.

Wigan were soon back level as Morgan Escare charged through to collect his own kick in and release Gildart in thrilling fashion with a long pass.

As the first half drew to a close, the Vikings were again beginning to look the stronger side and they were rewarded when a White kick rebounded off the post and Armstrong touched down.

The hosts maintained their dominance after the break as Marsh dived over in the corner from a long White pass.

Rhys Hanbury missed for the first time from the resulting conversion but made amends with two penalty goals.

Wigan's intensity levels had noticeably dropped and errors had crept into their game, but they managed to reduce the arrears on the hour when George Williams picked out Burgess with a cut-out pass. Burgess, last week's hat-trick hero against Cronulla, continued his impressive return to the club by squeezing the ball down in the corner.

From there Wigan found a renewed energy and got themselves back within six points as Tierney managed to find a gap to score on the right.

Burgess thought he had claimed another when he dived over on the left but referee James Child spotted a forward pass by Gildart.

Widnes failed to heed that warning and Burgess made no mistake when sent clear moments later, before setting up Gildart for the decisive score in the closing moments.

Match Reaction 

Wigan coach Shaun Wane on the hastily rearranged game: "I just coach the team to play - and we got a win."

"I am the coach of Wigan and we coached the team to get two points. That is all I am concerned about."

"I got told the game was off and that was it. All the players got a message - make sure you go to bed, look after yourself, something might be sorted."

 "We have a mentality - any place anywhere, any time - and the players did that."

On their strong finish: "We hadn't defended well, attacked well or looked after the ball. I thought once we started doing that we would be okay, and we did that in the last quarter.

"I'm very happy with the mentality shown by the players because this is a tough place to come. To get two points here is a great effort."

Widnes coach Denis Betts:  There are no excuses. It is a bizarre situation. We came in this morning not knowing what was going on.

"The game was put on at 11 o'clock and the club has done fantastically well at such short notice.

"But I couldn't control it. I don't waste energy thinking about it. I had nothing to do with it." 

On the defeat: "It is a tough one to take. We controlled the game for large parts but that is what a champion side does to you.

"They know how to win tough games, they are a pretty good side, but I am disappointed not to be talking about the win we should have had."