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Wigan Warriors grabbed a vital 24-22 win over the Catalans at the JJB Stadium on Friday night but left it late to make it a hat-trick of successes in their last three Super League games.
It was a real see saw battle with the result in doubt right to the end. Wigan led 10-0 before two tries from the Dragons in quick succession made it 10-12 at the interval.
The Warriors regained the lead after half time before the Catalans hit back, Wigan responded with two further tries to snatch the win. Wigan scored five tries to the Dragons four, Richards grabbing a brace for the home side.
Wigan Warriors were without the injured Sean O’Loughlin and Michael McIlorum, Phil Bailey Captained the side. Darrell Goulding returning from a loan spell at Salford started the game with Lee Mossop who had spent time at Huddersfield on the bench. The Dragons were forced into a late team change with Adam Mogg injured in the warm up, Bird started with Perry coming onto the bench.
Wigan pressed looking for early points, a Sam Tomkins kick on 10 minutes forced the Dragons into a drop out. This was quickly followed by a second as Greenshields was tacked inside the in goal area but the Catalans held firm. Overall a scrappy first 20 minutes.
The deadlock finally broken on 22 minutes, Ferriol penalised for holding down in the tackle on Fielden. The ball was spread quickly to the left, Phelps and Leuluai involved to send in George Carmont. Richards missed the extras 4-0.
Within three minutes Wigan were in again, Leuluai sending the ball wide for Richards to stroll in. Greenshields then sin-binned for talking out of turn. This time Richards hit a great conversion to make it 10-0.
On 35 minutes the Catalans grabbed a try in the corner through Steve Bell, a long pass from Bosc, Bell squeezing in. This time Leuluai sin-binned by referee Ben Thaler presumably for speaking out of turn. Bosc added the conversion, 10-6.
As half time approached the Catalans sensed another opening and this time it was Olivier Elima who was able to twist and turn his way over on the left hand side, that after a pass to him had looked suspiciously forward. Bosc made it two from two and the Dragons hit the lead, 10-12. That’s how it stayed until the interval.
With just seven minutes of the second half gone, Wigan grabbed their third try of the evening to regain the lead. Goulding feeding Roberts who crept in out wide. Richards conversion attempt was just wide, 14-12.
At the other end a Bosc grubber kick found space and Bird was able to dive over for an easy try on 51 minutes, Bosc hit the goal 14-18.
The visitors were on a roll and after some great work from Baile down the left, Pelo was in support to ground the ball for the Dragons fourth try. This time Bosc missed the extras but this see saw game had swung back in favour of Kevin Walters men.
The cherry and whites needed the next score and they got it with fifteen minutes left. Richards with his 2nd try of the night as the French side ran out of bodies on the left. Richards struck a superb goal to make it 20-22, game on again.
With just four minutes left Wigan snatched a late winner,the returning Darrell Goulding crashing in on the right hand corner to make it 24-22. Richards failed with the goal but it didn’t matter.
Wigan showed a real battling quality against what proved a determined French side. A great win to move Wigan up to 5th in the table.
Wigan Warriors: Cameron Phelps,
Amos Roberts,
Darrell Goulding,
George Carmont,
Pat Richards,
Sam Tomkins,
Thomas Leuluai,
Paul Prescott,
Mark Riddell,
Andy Coley,
Harrison Hansen,
Phil Bailey,
Joel Tomkins
Subs: Karl Pryce,
Iafeta Paleaaesina,
Stuart Fielden,
Lee Mossop
Tries: Amos Roberts,
Darrell Goulding,
George Carmont,
Pat Richards(2)
Goals: Pat Richards(2)
Catalans Dragons: Clint Greenshields, Steve Bell, Jason Croker, Jean Philippe Baile, Dimitri Pelo, Greg Bird, Thomas Bosc, David Ferriol, Casey McGuire, Jerome Guisset, Olivier Elima, Cyril Gossard, Jason Ryles
Subs: Remi Casty, Jamal Fakir, Gregory Mounis,Shane Perry
Tries: Bell, Elima, Bird, Pelo
Goals: Bosc 3
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