Betfred Super League
Wigan (6) 30
Tries: Cartwright, Kerr, Eckersley, McDermott, Daniel Goals: Keighran 5
Warrington (12) 18
Tries: Hopoate, Irwin, Ashton Goals: Irwin 3
Wigan Warriors’ young stand-ins held off the challenge of Warrington Wolves to move to within two points of Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos.
Josh Cartwright, Taylor Kerr, Kian McDermott and Austin Daniel all repaid the faith of head coach Matt Peet by scoring their first senior tries after filling gaps left by the Warriors’ injury troubles.
Wigan lost star full-back Jai Field on the morning of the match with a back injury and they were soon 12-0 down as Warrington’s Albert Hopoate and their own 18-year-old prodigy Ewan Irwin both scored tries.
The game see-sawed and was still level with half an hour to go until McDermott and Daniel showed the quality of the young players coming through the Wigan academy with vital finishes.
Cartwright, who had only made two Super League appearances before facing third-placed Warrington, only found out he was playing on the morning of the game when Field reported his back problem, which is not thought to be serious.
The 20-year-old got Wigan back in the game with a sharp try after Hopoate’s brilliant finish and a superb score from Irwin had shocked the home fans.
Wigan went into the game having won eight out of nine games in all competitions since losing to Warrington at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in April, but they were on the back foot against Sam Burgess’s side, who seemed intent on erasing the memory of their Magic Weekend defeat by Leigh Leopards.
Cartwright’s try came when James Bentley was in the sin-bin, paying the price for his side’s repeated infringements as Wigan turned the screw.
Warrington held their lead until half-time but just three minutes after the break 19-year-old loose forward Kerr showed some great footwork to go over for the equalising try.
The visitors were still very much in the game and when Kaide Ellis caught the impressive Irwin with a high shot, the teenager picked himself up to kick a penalty and edge Wolves back in front, making it 10 points for himself on the night.
Wigan took the lead for the first time when Harry Smith’s excellent pass opened up the defence and Eckersley slid over for his 16th Super League try of the season.
Just when Wigan seemed to have turned the tide, Warrington hit back again as Leon Hayes’ pass created space for Matty Ashton and the consummate finisher bullied his way over for his 99th try for the club to make it 18-18.
McDermott forced his way over from a neat touch back by Daniel from Keighran’s high kick to open the six-point gap again, and Irwin was denied a second try as a video review showed a knock-on after he thought he had scored under the posts.
Wigan made sure of the victory with five minutes left after another fast attack ended with Daniel scooting over in the corner, Keighran making it five kicks from five to round off a fine win.
The win puts Wigan on 26 points, two behind leaders Leeds, while Warrington dropped to fourth behind Wakefield Trinity on points difference.