Warriors claim comeback win
Wigan hit back from an early 10-point deficit to defeat third-placed Hull KR 36-28 at Craven Park.
Last Updated: 29/06/09 12:30pm
Wigan hit back from an early 10-point deficit to defeat third-placed Hull KR 36-28 at Craven Park.
Victory eases some of the pressure on coach Brian Noble after a seven-try comeback that seemed a world away after Peter Fox crossed twice in the first five minutes.
Rovers playmaker Michael Dobson set up the opener with a high kick into the sun and when Amos Roberts fumbled, Paul Cooke picked up the pieces before setting Fox up on the left.
The second came just a few minutes later when Fox picked up Kris Welham's low pass before showing good strength to cross.
Dobson failed with his second conversion attempt and Warriors narrowed the deficit in the 18th minute when centre Phil Bailey was bundled over following a scrappy period of play.
Wigan stand-off Sam Tomkins then set up the equalising score - stepping his way through a hole in the home defence before feeding George Carmont who wrestled his way over.
Squeezed over
The visitors were now running the show and it came as no surprise when Pat Richards gave them the lead five minutes later after the video referee adjudged that he had squeezed over in the left corner.
However, a handling error led to Rovers regaining the lead before the interval - replacement Mick Vella stealing through to score and with Dobson adding the extras, the hosts led 16-14.
But Warriors came out firing and were never behind again in the match after Bailey notched a second try four minutes after the break after being allowed too much space.
Richards missed the conversion but it mattered little when Harrison Hansen sauntered over despite receiving what appeared to be a forward pass from Sean O'Loughlin.
Richards made it two from five with the boot but added another four minutes later after Tomkins deservedly got his name on the scoresheet after being fed by O'Loughlin.
Just when Warriors looked to have done enough to claim the points, back came Rovers with two tries seven minutes to narrow the gap to just two points with Daniel Fitzhenry and Jake Webster crossing.
But Richards scored a breakaway try with two minutes left to put the seal on victory and added the extras from in front of the posts.