Leaders Wigan edge past York to extend 100% start

Betfred Super League

Wigan Warriors (10) 23

Tries: Marshall 2, Hodkinson, Keighran Goals: Keighran 3 Drop-goal: Smith

York Knights (14) 22

Wigan Warriors had to battle back from 14 points down against Super League newcomers York Knights to maintain their 100% winning start to the campaign.

York, who shocked defending champions Hull KR on the opening day of the season, silenced the Brick Community Stadium as David Nofoaluma and Paul Vaughan scored tries and Danny Richardson added a penalty to his two conversions.

The sin-binning of Ata Hingano, after the Knights conceded a series of penalties, changed the game as Liam Marshall scored two tries for the league leaders while the away side were down to 12 men.

Wigan edged ahead after the break as 20-year-old full-back Noah Hodkinson scored on his Super League debut, but a Richardson penalty levelled the score.

Wigan were lacking the stardust of Bevan French and Jai Field, which meant Hodkinson, who impressed on his debut in the Challenge Cup last week, was entrusted with the full-back role and he did not disappoint.

It was York, with two wins and two defeats from their opening four matches, who started the quickest and their fans could barely believe it as they scored 14 points without reply in the opening 25 minutes.

Winger Nofoaluma picked up and dashed over for the opener after Wigan had made a mess of defending a wayward Paul McShane kick on the last tackle, before veteran prop Vaughan burst over with three tacklers hanging onto him.

Richardson, who was impeccable with the boot after coming back into the side to replace injured York half-back Liam Harris, added two more points.

However, as Wigan pressed hard, the Knights’ discipline wobbled and Hingano paid the price with a yellow card.

While he was off the field, Wigan twice spread the play quickly to the left and Marshall showed why he has been one of Super League’s best finishers in recent seasons with two tries.

The Warriors finally moved ahead when Hodkinson, fielding a Junior Nsemba knock-back from a kick, seemed to have been wrapped up but wriggled out of Jesse Dee’s tackle and raced over the line.

York refused to lie down as Wigan seemed to be gathering momentum and a successful captain’s challenge eventually led to a penalty, which Richardson kicked to make it 16-16.

Wigan pressed again, with Jack Farrimond’s delayed pass freeing Keighran for a try he converted himself, and Smith’s one-pointer proved vital.

Wigan coach Matty Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

“It was a tough game. Two well-earned points. York were excellent and exposed us at times. There were periods in the game when we were second-best and we will learn from it.

“But it was good to see that, particularly with the experience we were missing, we could come out of the other side of that period. We were good for the win, but just about.

“It’s the closest game we’ve had [this season] and we’ve come from behind, but that’s what happens when you don’t get your start right and the other team does.”

York coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:

“It was a close game. We’ve been on the right end of those results in a couple of games and it’s our turn to take our medicine.

“I’m really proud of the effort and application. We stuck to the plan for the majority of the game. Sometimes you just have to give credit to the opposition – in that second half, Wigan smothered us and dominated possession and territory ultimately took its toll.

“We were brave but it was a valuable lesson for us in that we came up with two one-on-one misses and not sticking to a system for a try – that’s 18 points.

Wigan: Hodkinson; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Interchanges: Mago, Partington, Eseh, Lowe.

York: Mata’afa; Jones-Bishop, Wood, Williams, Nofoaluma; Hingano, Richardson; Va’a, McShane, Vaughan, Griffin, Dee, Cook.

Interchanges: Balmforth, Martin, Sangare, Field.