Wigan 27-14 Salford: Warriors into the Challenge Cup final with victory over Salford
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 30/07/17 5:12pm
Wigan came from behind to see off plucky Salford in an absorbing Challenge Cup semi-final at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Salford were on course for a first trip to Wembley for 48 years when they came from 12-0 down to lead 14-12 at half-time but Wigan's big-game players came to the fore as the Super League champions ground out a tense 27-14 victory to earn a showdown with Hull on August 26.
It is the "fairytale final" that Hull coach Lee Radford craved as his side gets the chance to atone for their 16-0 defeat by Wigan at Wembley in 2013.
Former England full-back Sam Tomkins and current stand-off George Williams were outstanding for Wigan, who will be favourites to secure a record-extending 20th final triumph.
Salford, making light of their dismal league form that has seen them win just one of their last seven matches, played their part in a full-blooded clash, with Tyrone McCarthy scoring a try on his debut and fellow newcomer Manu Vatuvei also
catching the eye after a nervous start.
Yet there was little hint of the drama that was to unfold after Wigan got off to a tremendous start.
Right winger Tom Davies, who was chosen ahead of leading try-scorer Liam Marshall to go up against Vatuvei, had two tries disallowed inside the first five minutes, one for a foot in touch and the other for a forward pass, but it only delayed the inevitable.
Williams and Thomas Leuluai combined to get centre Oliver Gildart striding through a gap for the first score and sniping runs from Tomkins and John Bateman created the position for second rower Willie Isa to grab his first try of the season, courtesy of a delayed pass by Williams.
Williams added one conversion and kicked a penalty as the Warriors led 12-0 after 16 minutes, with Salford looking hopelessly at sea.
Stand-off Todd Carney sparked the fightback on 23 minutes with the key pass that enabled full-back Niall Evalds to get winger Greg Johnson over at the corner.
Johnson then broke out of defence to create the position for McCarthy to touch down Dobson's grubber kick and the game was turned on its head.
Dobson levelled the scores with his second conversion and nudged his side in front with a penalty 10 minutes before half-time after McCarthy had been impeded while chasing another kick from his captain.
That foul earned Tomkins a spell in the sin bin but Wigan were able to hold out while down to 12 men and the former England full-back made an immediate impact on his return early in the second half with a break out of defence that got winger Joe Burgess haring to the corner.
It looked a try but video referee Ben Thaler ruled Burgess lost control of the ball in Evalds' last-ditch tackle, which might have been the pivotal moment but for Wigan's late show.
Williams brought the scores level with a penalty after having the ball stolen during one of his trademark forceful runs and then missed a chance to restore the lead when he was wide with a third attempt.
However, Wigan's persistence paid off on the hour when Williams' cut-out pass freed Burgess and his inside kick bounced kindly for hooker Michael McIlorum.
Williams kicked his fourth goal to make it 20-14 and Tomkins put two scores between the sides with a drop goal.
A needless sin-binning for centre Anthony Gelling, who headed the ball away to delay a Salford tap, meant Wigan were forced to play the last 10 minutes a man short but they had enough in hand and added a touch of gloss to the final scoreline when Gildart went over for his second try, with Williams kicking his fifth goal.
