Josh Thewlis and Albert Hopoate scored for Warrington Wolves as they pulled off a big 23-6 win over Wigan Warriors in Round Nine of Super League at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Warrington were missing captain George Williams, who is out with a long-term neck injury that requires surgery, plus James Harrison Luke Yates, Toff Sipley,and Adam Holroyd. Cai Taylor-Wray also went off with an injury.
Meanwhile, Wigan are still missing Bevan French plus have Harry Smith and Sam Walters out through bans.
They also lost winger Liam Marshall early in the match to a hamstring injury which caused a huge upheaval in the backline.
Warrington had a slender half-time lead through a Marc Sneyd penalty and a Josh Thewlis converted try, giving the home outfit an 8-0 advantage at the break.
Wigan managed to hit back in the second 40 through Zack Eckersley but Warrington were on the scoreboard again through a Hopoate double, Thewlis' second, and a Sneyd drop goal that saw them canter to a 23-6 victory.
The defeat marks Wigan's fourth Super League loss in a row, which is their worst run ever under Matt Peet.
Meanwhile, Warrington move two points off top spot with a game in hand.
In front of a packed out Halliwell Jones stadium, Warrington and Wigan produced a cagey start in the opening 10 minutes, both teams coming up with errors and giving away penalties.
Wigan were then dealt a big blow on the 11th minute as Marshall pulled up and immediately signalled to the touchline while clutching his hamstring.
The injury forced Wigan into a reshuffle which saw their discipline fall away, with their right edge giving away too many penalties, mainly on Matty Ashton.
Warrington eventually got over the tryline as Ewan Irwin sent a delightful pass back inside to Thewlis who found a massive game between Patrick Mago and Ethan Havard.
Wigan thought they had hit back on the stroke of half-time when Wardle was found on the wing but the effort was ruled out for a forward pass and so the Wolves kept their eight-point cushion heading into the second 40.
Wigan came out trying to fire early in the second half and thought they had got over on the 49th minute when Eckerlsey grounded a loose ball. However, it was ruled out due to a push from Keighran.
It then did not take long for Warrington to get over again as, after a Junior Nsemba knock on, they used their territory and sent it through hands for Hopoate to come up with a brilliant finish on the edge. Sneyd could not convert so Warrington had a 12-0 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
However, out of nowhere just six minutes later, Wigan then managed to hit back as Eckersley broke through the Warrington line, fended off the defenders, and raced 60 metres to dive in and delight the travelling supporters. Keighran converted to bring the score to 12-6.
That sparked Wigan into life and they looked to be building towards another try when they broke downfield once again through Keighran.
That burst of energy was brought to a quick halt when, in the 67th minute, Warrington were given a penalty and from just 10 metres out Thewlis barged over the top of Field for his second, Sneyd converting for an 18-6 lead.
Sneyd then delighted the Wolves faithful further when he sent over his 50th Super League one-pointer to extend the lead to 19-6.
Warrington then rubbed salt in the wound when they went out wide again for Hopoate to dive in for his second to wrap up a monumental 23-6 win.
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet to Your Site:
"That was tough to watch at times.
"I was quite proud of the effort of the players, there were moments we'll wish we had again.
"Both teams are in similar situations, stretched positionally. Ultimately Warrington managed it better than we did, and executed better than we did. We didn't take our opportunities.
"There were red flags in other games around effort and attitude, but I thought that was there tonight. Tonight it was probably around our execution, and the thing is we can't have lapses in any week as that puts pressure on.
"It's concerning and difficult. It's going to be about sticking together and working our way through it, as we have in the past."
Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess to Your Site:
"The first half was gritty and we lacked a bit of composure, but we found it in the second half.
"I was really pleased for the team. We lost Cai Taylor-Wray tonight, and had to shuffle around again, which we're getting used to, but we handled it well.
"I'm proud of all of them, and I'm really proud of the way they defended for each other. We were disappointed with how we defended last week so I'm happy with the way they turned up and kept competing hard.
"I thought Ewan Irwin could have asserted himself onto the game a bit more, there's parts where he's just feeling it, but he's a wonderful player who's only 18 and we can see the bits of class. We have to be patient with him.
"He takes his moments well and I'm asking him to have a few more and get on the ball a little bit more. His confidence will grow."
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