WOLVES PLAYING FOR PRIDE

Wigan Warriors 30

By PHIL HOWARTH

WARRINGTON went a long way towards salvaging pride in their worst ever league season by coming within a whisker of humbling Wigan.

Sunday brought the Wolves' best display of the year in a game they should have gone on to win in a stunning second half.

The reason behind John Duffy's decision to attempt a pass to Lee Briers rather than grounding the ball for a try - with five minutes left and the score poised at 24-26 - must remain a mystery.

New boy Scott Wilson could also have scored the winner with his very first touch for the club two minutes later but he was let down by a poor pass from Lee Penny.

The passion that had been so shockingly absent at Sheffield the week before was there in spades as Wigan's hopes of a gentle warm-up prior to the play-offs quickly evaporated.

Despite the disappointment of the wasted try chance late on, Duffy had a fine game after finally getting another chance to prove himself at scrum half.

His half back partnership with man of the match Briers was a constant source of trouble to the Wigan defence throughout the game, paying dividends as early as the second minute when Penny finished a fine move by barging Jason Robinson out of the way.

Briers' long pass out to the left put the full back in and Robinson was left with a busted eyebrow for his troubles.

Mark Forster shoved rampaging Wigan winger Danny Moore into touch only a few yards away from the try line as the visitors hit back.

And their efforts bore fruit after nine minutes when Simon Haughton made the break to send Tony Smith in to score.

Warrington regained the lead after 13 minutes when Briers sent up a high kick, Kris Radlinski mistimed his jump for once and Mike Eagar was on hand to catch the ball and drop over the line.

Briers converted for a 10-4 scoreline.

Sloppy defending in the middle of the park allowed Gary Connolly to race through the middle of the Wolves' defence three minutes later and Jason Roach's well timed tackle could not prevent Radlinski from backing up to score.

The taunts of the Fletcher Street End surprisingly unnerved Andy Farrell into missing his kick for the second time.

Penny was stretchered off with an ankle problem to be replaced by Will Cowell, to make it three Academy youngsters on the pitch.

An already fiery match boiled over into a 22 man tussle when David Highton dived on a wayward McCormack pass and referee Stuart Cummins struggled to restore order.

Warrington were made to pay when Pechey lost the ball and Haughton surged forward before Paul Johnson ran in Wigan's third try to take the lead for the first time after 29 minutes. It was third time lucky for Farrell with the conversion.

Pechey wasted the chance to make amends when he put down a fine pass from Duffy with the line at his mercy six minutes later.

Henry Paul sidestepped Cowell for a simple try after 36 minutes and Farrell converted.

A Briers penalty reduced the deficit to 12-20 but Wigan seemed to produce the killer blow deep into injury time when substitute Lee Gilmour broke through to send Smith away for his second try.

Farrell's conversion left Wigan looking comfortable at 12-26 going into half-time but Warrington were not ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Penny made a surprise return to the field after the break and a thrilling mix of inventive attacking play and tough tackling from both sides made for a fascinating second half.

Steve McCurrie seemed to crash over from close after 50 minutes but the referee ruled it out as a double movement.

McCurrie then infuriated the Wigan fans by felling Robinson with a hand in the face, for which the second rower was put on report.

Mike Eagar thought he had scored after 59 minutes but the referee again ruled it out, saying the centre had been pushed into touch.

The game swung Warrington's way when Gilmour was sin-binned for taking out substitute Chris Causey as he chased after a Penny kick.

Mark Forster barged over with three men hanging on to him a minute later and Briers converted.

Four minutes later substitute Ian Knott dived in from a play-the-ball after Pechey had forced his way close to the line.

Briers' conversion left the score at 24-26 and Wilderspool was in full song.

Repeated attempts to put Penny under pressure with high kicks continued to fail as the full back shrugged off his ankle problem to put in another fine display.

Warrington were looking the hungrier side and should have sealed the game when Briers and Duffy combined to put the scrum half on the line.

But instead of falling over to score, Duffy went for the pass and Briers could not collect.

New signing Scott Wilson made a brief performance on the wing but was struggling with a groin injury he had picked up in training and gave little indication of what he is capable of.

The league leaders had the final say when Mark Bell completed a well worked move on the left with a minute to go but it left Warrington with scant reward for their efforts.

The Wolves were left with their worst league season on record but the fans still poured out of the stadium on a high in the hope that the magnificent efforts of this game are but a taster for Super League IV.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.