Wigan keep up title pace with win at Catalans

Betfred Super League

Catalans (4) 4

Try Romano.

Wigan (16) 40

In Perpignan, Wigan Warriors defeated Dragons and Catalans to earn a highly-deserved Super League victory, keeping their pursuit of the League Leaders’ Shield in motion.

After the break, Wigan held on for good thanks to a first-half Liam Marshall double, with Jai Field also participating in the action. However, Arthur Romano kept the hosts in the lead by reducing the deficit to 12 points.

Field’s second and Zach Eckersley’s were both set up by Bevan French, who also had Marshall score for his hat-trick as Wigan won in style.

With a maximum of 42 points available after their final three games, leaders Hull KR could take the title next week if the results are positive, but the visitors’ victory keeps them in with a slim chance of winning.

Sam Tomkins, who brought forward his second retirement, was among the players who Catalans announced in the lead-up to Saturday’s game.

As Junior Nsemba replaced Adam Keighran in the starting lineup, while Romano was called in for the Catalans as Fouad Yaha was unable to start, Wigan were forced to make a change just before kick-off.

Marshall scored a pair of quick-fire tries in Les Dracs’ opening 25 minutes to increase his Super League tally to 151. He proved to be a challenge for Catalans.

However, it was Field who delivered the winning run in the opening half thanks to Eckersley’s swift offload in the build-up.

After Wigan failed to deal with Ugo Tison’s high kick, the Catalans responded impressively, which gave Romano a chance to cross just before the break.

Field’s second try was superior to Field’s first.

The talismanic French kicked off in a sluggish field, who was able to touch down effortlessly.

When Tyler Dupree hit Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet with a high arm, which left the Catalans full-back with a bloody nose, Wigan were reduced to 12 players shortly after.

Shortly before Wigan were back to a full compliment, Aispuro-Bichet almost put on an incredible run to increase Catalans’ total, but Field made a try-saving tackle to deny him.

Romano almost ran into Romano at the corner for his second try of the evening, but Wigan’s cavalry, Sam Walters and Liam Farrell, who were Catalans, came to save him.

Matt Peet, the coach of Wigan:

“We won earlier in the year by a greater score than tonight, and we lost lads with broken bones.” And it was the same tonight as it was yesterday because there is a lot to contend with. It’s always physical.

The game tonight was exactly what we needed because it’s a proud club with proud fans and members of proud people.

“We seem to be building; we’ve recently faced good teams who have been playing really well, but our performances have been improving.”

Coach for Catalans, Joel Tomkins:

I believed we had a good start because we had some real intent in the beginning. We made it difficult for them to defend because there was a significant change in our attitude tonight.

To lose your six, seven, and thirteen is challenging because we lost Theo Fages, Luke Keary, and Oliver Partington on Thursday.

When you play against one of the best teams and have half of your salary cap sat on the sidelines, you need your full squad to play.

“I thought the scoreline slipped a little toward the end, and I was very disappointed with the final two tries, but overall I’m proud of our team.”

Satae, Seguier, Dezaria, and Balmforth swaps.

Wigan: Field, Eckersley, Nsemba, Wardle, Marshall, Marshall, French, Smith, Hill, O’Neill, Byrne, Walters, Farrell, Ellis, and others.

McDermott, Mago, Leeming, and Dupree are the exchanges.