Super League: Wigan Warriors 12-6 Catalans Dragons
Last Updated: 06/02/16 4:20pm
Wigan saw off a second-half fightback from Catalans Dragons as they ground out a 12-6 win in the opening round of Super League.
Michael McIlorum scored two tries to give the Warriors a 10-0 lead at half-time at the DW Stadium on Friday night, and though Dragons hit back with a try of their own within three minutes of the start of the second half, the visitors were unable to orchestrate a famous fightback in their first outing of the new campaign.
Matty Smith then added a penalty to close out a game that was plagued by poor weather from the outset.
The heavens had opened in the minutes that led to kick-off, and the weather remained a constant damper on the game throughout.
It was the Dragons who were most bothered by the slippery conditions initially, as handling errors eroded several attacking opportunities.
McIlorum then opened the scoring when one such handling error from the visitors saw the ball spilled right in front of their line in the tackle, and the hooker pounced to cross the whitewash. The video referee was asked to check that there had been no foul play to free the ball but he confirmed there had been none, and Wigan led 4-0 after the conversion was missed.
Catalans were not deterred in their desire to play running rugby, but perhaps should have been, as more handling errors decorated their opening quarter.
The Perpignan side's problems were then compounded when McIlorum scored his second. The Warrior passed to George Williams, who stepped the defence before offloading to McIlorum in support, with the latter diving over for the try. Matty Smith slotted the conversion to give his side a 10-point lead.
The Dragons threatened to come back into it but the Wigan defence was resolute in the mud, and the visitors were unable put any kind of dent in the deficit as the score remained 10-0 at half-time.
However, Catalans started the second half with purpose, and Richie Myler spotted a gap behind the defence early on to put a perfectly weighted kick into the in-goal area.
Wigan's Lewis Tierney looked comfortable in his attempt to shepherd the ball out, but Justin Horo squeezed through and grounded the ball to hand former Wigan star Pat Richards an important conversion attempt. The conversion was sent over, and it looked like Catalans were back in the game.
They continued to grow into the encounter, looking the more threatening of the two sides for long periods, but the Warriors defence held out to frustrate the opposition.
When the Dragons were penalised in front of the poles in the 54th minute, Matty Smith opted to kick for goal and landed the opportunity to take a 12-6 lead.
The pressure seemed to tell for the Dragons, who then began to suffer again from the handling errors that kept them out in the first half, and with conditions deteriorating even further, neither side was able to add another score.
Watch Wigan in Super League action away to Huddersfield next Friday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm. Catalans host Hull FC on Saturday, February 13, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 4.55pm.
