Wigan Warriors returned to the top of Super League with an accomplished display against St Helens in the main event of day one of Magic Weekend. It was a game that perhaps hinted at the gap that exists between the two great rivals.
They came into the game with injury problems, but Wigan who handled it the better. It was by no means a classic, with the calibre of player missing contributing to a stop-start, stunted affair.
However, that would have mattered little for the reigning champions who did enough to lead by 14 points at half-time. Saints, without a litany of attacking talent, never really did enough to threaten a comeback despite one or two half-chances.
They are eight points behind the Warriors and while still inside the top six with room to spare, are not completely assured of their place in the playoffs. This was the fourth time since 1955 they have been nilled by Wigan.
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Hull FC 4-29 London Broncos
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London Broncos’ hopes of avoiding finishing last in Super League were given a major boost after they comfortably defeated Hull FC to draw level on points with the Black and Whites at the foot of the table.
Although the side finishing bottom of the Super League this year will not be automatically relegated to the Championship due to IMG’s gradings system, the notion of London avoiding last place would be a major talking point, given how it is already widely accepted they will be removed from the top flight at the end of this season due to a low grading.
That prospect now looks entirely possible after this victory, which brings the two sides level on six points apiece. The Broncos were far superior, leading 12-4 by half-time before tries from Josh Rourke and Oli Leyland after the break gave London a deserved victory.
Wigan, while nowhere near the blistering form they displayed at the start of this season, are now back at the top at the expense of Hull KR, who face Catalans on day two of Magic on Sunday afternoon. It is perhaps a worrying omen for the rest that they still have several gears to find.
It was Wigan who looked more threatening early on and they broke the deadlock inside the opening quarter. A wonderful break from Jake Wardle was halted but the Warriors held their nerve well and three plays later opened the scoring when Adam Keighran’s pass found Liam Marshall unmarked in the corner.
Keighran and Jack Farrimond were a makeshift half-back pairing and they impressed throughout the first half. Farrimond doubled Wigan’s lead with a magnificent solo try, chipping through before collecting to touch down and giving Keighran a simple conversion attempt to make it 12-0.
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In response, chances for Saints were scarce. But whenever they looked threatening, they did so through their teenage full-back, Harry Robertson, who twice came close to touching down. When Keighran added a penalty to open up a three-score lead just before half-time, the Warriors were in complete control.
That was the way things played out in the second half. Robertson again looked lively and his break downfield should have led to a Saints try but Matt Whitley dropped the ball in the act of scoring. That let Wigan off the hook and with seven minutes to go they put the contest to bed when Sam Walters grounded an Abbas Miski kick.
