Warriors Progress in Perpignan

Catalans Dragons 26
Tries:- Pelo 2, Elima, Murphy, Wilson
Goals: Bosc 3

Wigan Warriors 50
Tries: - Carmont, Barrett 2, Mathers, Richards 2, Calderwood 2, Hock
Goals: Richards 7

Wigan Warriors booked their place in the Final Eliminator at Leeds Rhinos next Friday with a superb 26-50 win in the South of France against the Catalans Dragons.

Around 300 Warriors fans saw their side run in nine sensational tries. A see saw first 50 minutes saw the game level at 20 all, but the Warriors then produced a four try blitz to blow the Dragons away in a 12 minute spell and crossed for six tries in the second forty.

It was a team effort, Trent Barrett, Pat Richards and Mark Calderwood scored two tries a piece as the Warriors in the end ran away with this play-off tie.

The Dragons looked for the early break through, Raguin with a kick through on the final tackle after just two minutes, Mathers with the covering defence to kick the ball dead. Pat Richards was then tackled in his own in goal area to force a second goal line drop out in quick succession

On 10 minutes, Bosc put a high kick into the corner, with no Warriors covering defence Justin Murphy was just unable to gather the ball, that after a McGuire break which split the Warriors down the middle. The Warriors were under intense pressure and it took until the 15 minute mark for Wigan to get some possession inside the Catalans half.

The deadlock was finally broken on 18 minutes and it came after a break by Guisset down the left and he sent Dimitri Pelo away, the winger danced inside both Calderwood and Mathers for the try. Bosc added a difficult conversion to make it 6-0 to the home side.

The Warriors responded almost immediately, Guisset gave a way a penalty to put Wigan in a good field position. Gareth Hock doing well to off load despite two defenders around him close to the line and he managed to send in George Carmont for an equalizing try on 22 minutes. Richards attempted conversion hit the upright and went wide, 6-4.

On 31,Wigan were in again, Tomkins and then Phelps with a break down the right and his inside pass sent Trent Barrett scooting away for the Warriors second try. This time Richards added the extras to make it, 6-10.

The home sides were denied a try by Steve Ganson after some help from the touch judge as McGuire picked up a loose ball but Hock was at the receiving end of a high tackle which resulted in him spilling the ball. Within a couple of minutes a Barrett pass sent full back Richard Mathers in for Wigan’s third try of the evening on the arc with 35 minutes on the clock. Richards missed the goal, 6-14.

But within just a minute of the interval, Mogg and Raguin combined to send Pelo in for his second try in the corner, Bosc missed the goal and it was 10-14 at half time.

Within two minutes of the restart Wigan were denied a try by the video referee. Tim Smith with a kick on, Barrett quick to react to kick the ball forward and Richards pounced on the ball over the line but Barrett was just off side ahead of Tim Smith’s kick.

Just as Catalans pressed at the other end, a wayward pass from Wilson to Greenshields was snapped up by Pat Richards on 44 minutes who then raced away from his own 20 to grab the Warriors fourth try, this time the winger was not denied his four points, he had too much pace for the advancing Dragons defenders. Richards himself added the extras, 10-20.

The home side were not done and McGuire’s pass found Olivier Elima and he was able to power over from close range eluding attempted tackles from both Fielden and Mathers on 46 minutes. It was a simple goal for Bosc, 16-20.

Within two minutes, the Catalans were in again with back to back tries, John Wilson with the break to send in Justin Murphy. Bosc missed the goal, 20-20.

On 56 minutes it was the turn of the Warriors to fight back, Higham, Hock and Carmont combined to send in Pat Richards in the corner. The winger struck a great two points to edge the visitors ahead once more 20-26. Richards added a further penalty from distance to make it 20-28.

The Warriors were on a role and scored two quick tries, Barrett and Bailey combined, the stand off with his second try, the goal was added, 20-34. Soon after a mistake by Greenshields allowed Calderwood in for a try, Wigan’s seventh. Richards missed the goal this time, 20-38.

The home side realised the game was slipping away from them and Gareth Hock stretched over for another try with ten minutes left. Richards added his 6th goal, 20-44.

A Wilson try and Bosc goal made it 26-44 but it was only consolation for the home fans.

Mark Calderwood grabbed a second try with just two minutes left, quick hands across from left to right and Richards goal brought up the 50 points.

An awesome performance, their first win in three visits to the Catalans this season. Wigan are now just 80 minutes away from a Grand Final spot.

Catalans Dragons: Clint Greenshields, Justin Murphy, John Wilson, Sebastien Raguin, Dimitri Pelo, Adam Mogg, Thomas Bosc, Olivier Elima, Casey McGuire, Alex Chan, Jamal Fakir, Jason Croker, Dane Carlaw

Subs: Jerome Guisset, Vincent Duport, Remi Casty, Jean Philippe Baile

Wigan Warriors: Richard Mathers, Mark Calderwood, Cameron Phelps, George Carmont, Pat Richards, Trent Barrett, Thomas Leuluai, Stuart Fielden, Mickey Higham, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Phil Bailey, Joel Tomkins
Subs: Iafeta Paleaaesina, Gareth Hock, Eamon O'Carroll, Tim Smith

Referee: Steve Ganson

Attendance: 9985