Wigan hit back to edge youthful Warrington

Betfred Super League

Warrington (12) 18

Tries: Lindop, Drinkwater, Ratchford Goals: Ratchford 3

Wigan (19) 19

Tries: Nsemba, Marshall, Leeming Goals: Keighran 3 Drop: Smith

Wigan Warriors fought backmost from 12-0 down and survived a precocious rally pinch 12 men to separator retired a youthful Warrington Wolves and move level connected points pinch Super League leaders St Helens.

The reigning champions seemed stunned arsenic a Wolves broadside featuring 11 changes played pinch state and took power of a pulsating rehearsal of adjacent week's Challenge Cup last pinch tries by Arron Lindop and Josh Drinkwater.

But 19 unanswered Wigan points successful 17 minutes, including a stunning people successful nan area by Super League's apical effort scorer Liam Marshall, turned nan crippled astir by nan break.

Warrington refused to beryllium cowed and stayed successful an progressively nervy crippled to group up a grandstand decorativeness erstwhile Wigan's Adam Keighran was sent disconnected for an disfigured enarthrosis complaint into Lindop pinch conscionable complete 10 minutes remaining.

Stefan Ratchford crossed for a 3rd Wire try, each group up by Josh Drinkwater, but Wigan held retired for a precious occurrence which near them 2nd down Saints successful nan array connected points difference, but pinch a crippled successful hand.

Keighran's ill-disciplined infinitesimal did not costs his broadside arsenic Warriors secured a 10th triumph successful 12 convention games.

But it intends his information successful nan Wembley showpiece connected 8 June is successful superior doubt, pinch nan Rugby Football League's lucifer reappraisal sheet convening connected Monday to reappraisal nan incident.

Wigan will move apical if they triumph their crippled successful hand, while Wolves are successful associated 3rd spot pinch Hull KR, 2 points adrift of nan starring duo.

Warrington leader Sam Burgess described his line-up arsenic a "calculated action gamble" and it astir proved a masterstroke arsenic debutants Cai Taylor-Wray, Nolan Tupaea and Jake Thewlis each impressed, matching unquestionable tone pinch evident value against acold much knowledgeable opposition.

A blistering commencement lifted a raucous location crowd and instilled a belief that remained passim a crippled that was successful nan equilibrium until nan end.

Wigan could person been up wrong a infinitesimal had Marshall not stepped fractionally into touch pursuing a Connor Wrench handling correction from a agelong kick.

Ratchford's straightforward extremity put Wire up and past 2 delightful Drinkwater kicks group up tries arsenic nan location broadside extended nan lead to 12-0.

Lindop benefited from nan first, collecting a perfectly weighted pat through.

And Drinkwater past gathered his ain delicate footwear done arsenic nan hosts pressured nan Wigan statement pursuing a awesome offload by Max Wood.

The rested Wolves players celebrated their lightning commencement from nan stands, but Wigan retaliated successful style.

Junior Nsemba had excessively overmuch spot arsenic he barged done Drinkwater and complete nan statement to get Wigan connected nan committee pinch his 3rd effort successful 3 games earlier Marshall's superb flying decorativeness successful nan area from Harry Smith's good pass.

Keighran's 2nd exquisite touchline footwear levelled nan scores and a typically prestigious Bevan French break exploited a spread successful nan Wolves defence and he recovered Kruise Leeming connected nan wrong for a 3rd converted try.

A last-gasp Smith drop-goal - yet crucially - made it 19-12 astatine nan interval.

But immoderate thoughts that nan nous and value successful nan distant ranks would overpower Warrington ne'er materialised.

Following Keighran's consecutive reddish card, Drinkwater's 3rd superbly-judged footwear enabled Ratchford to touch down pinch 2 minutes near and bring dream of a 5th consecutive Wire victory, but Warriors saw retired nan remaining time.

Warrington coach Sam Burgess connected Keighran reddish paper and his side's display:

"I don't want to adhd substance to it. We each saw it.

"I don't for illustration seeing players miss finals; it dilutes nan contest. We want them to person each their players and nan champion squad possible. We want to spot a bully title astatine Wembley.

"But location is simply a strategy and a process location and we'll spot what happens this week.

"I thought it was a bully crippled to watch. It could person gone either measurement astatine nan end.

"I'm proud of my squad and it was a bully time for Warrington. They did a awesome occupation against a adjacent full-strength Wigan."

Wigan coach Matty Peet connected Keighran reddish paper and seeing retired nan victory:

"There is simply a imaginable he won't play. There's ever that chance erstwhile you play a game, but that is what nan squad is designed for.

"If he is retired I'll beryllium very disappointed for Adam but, arsenic acold arsenic nan squad is concerned, we'll move connected beautiful quick.

"I conscionable gave him a pat connected nan backmost and told him to support his caput up. He's evidently disappointed but that's it.

"In nan extremity we're relieved to get nan win. There were times it looked for illustration we mightiness not.

"Warrington were outstanding, very committed. We were a spot disconnected our champion but in installments to Warrington for making it truthful competitive. I had a emotion it wouldn't beryllium straightforward and truthful it proved."

Warrington: Taylor-Wray, Lindop, Wrench, Tai, Thewlis, Ratchford, Drinkwater, Bullock, Powell, Wood, Holroyd, Tupaea, Whitehead.

Interchanges: Musgrove, Green, Nicholson, Hartill.

Wigan: Hampshire, Douglas, Keighran, Eckersley, Marshall, French, Smith, Havard, O'Neill, Byrn, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Interchanges: Mago, Leeming, Dupree, Hill

Referee: Jack Smith.