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Wigan 54 - 15 Bolton
Daniel Morris22 Mar - 17:02
Winners are grinners as Wigan clinch league title
Wigan welcomed Bolton to Douglas Valley for their last home game of the season. With only a trip to Southport to look forward to, Wigan knew that their destiny was in their own hands and that a win with a bonus point would be enough to clinch the league title.
Wigan made an excellent start as young centre, Riley Dervan took centre stage with a break down the middle before taking contact and popping the ball up to Will Morgan in support. Morgan was hauled down and the ball was quickly recycled and taken close to the posts. Ollie Morgan spotted a gap at the side of the ruck and reached out to place the ball over the line for the first score. Zack Barker added the conversion.
Barely a couple of minutes had passed before Dervan was through again, showing all his class with pace and strength to match. Good hands saw the ball reach Connor Matthews who shipped the ball on to Nathan Butler. Butler used his pace to create space for Will Morgan who finished from 30 yards for a 12-0 lead.
Bolton set Wigan hearts a flutter as a breakaway try threatened to spoil the party atmosphere but normal service was soon resumed as Captain, Harry Barker, caught the ball from a goal line drop out and ran it straight back at the Bolton line. Barker broke the first tackle and found himself with only the fullback to beat as he meandered towards the line before being hauled down by the chasing defence and just crossing the white wash. Zack Barker added the conversion.
It was Barker again, with a captain’s performance, who finished a Will Morgan break down the right hand side. Morgan looped the ball inside and Barker was on hand to gallop under the sticks for a try that would seal the bonus point. All Wigan had to do was seal the victory and the title would be theirs.
Bolton were determined to spoil the party with another attack that swept from left to right and was carried over in the corner for a 26-12 scoreline at half time.
Bolton were the first to score after the break, as Zack Barker, with a magnificent ball strip, was adjudged to have played the ball on the floor. Bolton added the penalty to take the score to 26-15 and set the Wigan faithful into nervousness once again.
But Wigan settled the nerves and never looked back. Zack Barker made a half break in the Bolton 22 before putting Riley Dervan through. Barker added the conversion.
Despite valiant efforts by a Bolton side held together with strapping tape, Wigan began to show their class. A quick tap penalty on the 5 metre line by Reece Rowcroft was taken over by Paddy Loughlin with the conversion added by Barker.
Mason Fillingham was in his pomp at fullback and was enjoying the space. A grubber kick behind the defence was collected by Rowcroft who jogged over for the score. Connor Matthews added the conversion.
The final try of the game was a thing of wonder. Wigan were pinned back in their own 22 but had the put in at the scrum. A sweeping move in the backline mesmerized both defenders and spectators alike as the interplay between Fillingham, Rowcroft and Butler split the Bolton defence wide open. The move continued down the left wing as Butler broke free and found Matthews on the inside. Bolton got a hand to the ball in an attempt the spoil the move but Ollie Morgan was on hand to tidy up and score. Matthews added the conversion for a 54-15 final score and Wigan began the celebrations as they won the league with a game to spare.
Wigan made an excellent start as young centre, Riley Dervan took centre stage with a break down the middle before taking contact and popping the ball up to Will Morgan in support. Morgan was hauled down and the ball was quickly recycled and taken close to the posts. Ollie Morgan spotted a gap at the side of the ruck and reached out to place the ball over the line for the first score. Zack Barker added the conversion.
Barely a couple of minutes had passed before Dervan was through again, showing all his class with pace and strength to match. Good hands saw the ball reach Connor Matthews who shipped the ball on to Nathan Butler. Butler used his pace to create space for Will Morgan who finished from 30 yards for a 12-0 lead.
Bolton set Wigan hearts a flutter as a breakaway try threatened to spoil the party atmosphere but normal service was soon resumed as Captain, Harry Barker, caught the ball from a goal line drop out and ran it straight back at the Bolton line. Barker broke the first tackle and found himself with only the fullback to beat as he meandered towards the line before being hauled down by the chasing defence and just crossing the white wash. Zack Barker added the conversion.
It was Barker again, with a captain’s performance, who finished a Will Morgan break down the right hand side. Morgan looped the ball inside and Barker was on hand to gallop under the sticks for a try that would seal the bonus point. All Wigan had to do was seal the victory and the title would be theirs.
Bolton were determined to spoil the party with another attack that swept from left to right and was carried over in the corner for a 26-12 scoreline at half time.
Bolton were the first to score after the break, as Zack Barker, with a magnificent ball strip, was adjudged to have played the ball on the floor. Bolton added the penalty to take the score to 26-15 and set the Wigan faithful into nervousness once again.
But Wigan settled the nerves and never looked back. Zack Barker made a half break in the Bolton 22 before putting Riley Dervan through. Barker added the conversion.
Despite valiant efforts by a Bolton side held together with strapping tape, Wigan began to show their class. A quick tap penalty on the 5 metre line by Reece Rowcroft was taken over by Paddy Loughlin with the conversion added by Barker.
Mason Fillingham was in his pomp at fullback and was enjoying the space. A grubber kick behind the defence was collected by Rowcroft who jogged over for the score. Connor Matthews added the conversion.
The final try of the game was a thing of wonder. Wigan were pinned back in their own 22 but had the put in at the scrum. A sweeping move in the backline mesmerized both defenders and spectators alike as the interplay between Fillingham, Rowcroft and Butler split the Bolton defence wide open. The move continued down the left wing as Butler broke free and found Matthews on the inside. Bolton got a hand to the ball in an attempt the spoil the move but Ollie Morgan was on hand to tidy up and score. Matthews added the conversion for a 54-15 final score and Wigan began the celebrations as they won the league with a game to spare.
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