Warriors bounce back

Wigan put memories of Good Friday's derby defeat behind them with an 18-12 victory over in-form Hull KR.

The Warriors were crushed 46-10 by fierce local rivals St Helens three days ago, but bounced back with a win sealed by winger Mark Calderwood's try four minutes from the hooter.

Wigan coach Brian Noble had drafted young hooker Mike McIlorum into the starting line-up to replace Mickey Higham, although Pat Richards was passed fit after overcoming an eye injury picked up at Knowsley Road.

Rovers coach Justin Morgan left playmaker Paul Cooke on the bench, starting with Ben Galea and James Webster at half-back, with former Warrior Shaun Briscoe facing his home-town club at full-back.

Smashed

And Briscoe was soon making his presence felt as, after Trent Barrett put Richards through a gap, the supporting Calderwood was smashed into touch by the Rovers last line of defence a couple of yards short.

The Warriors were not to be denied, however, and on the next set a long cut-out ball from Barrett found Laim Colbon who showed neat footwork to evade Jon Steel and score in the left-hand corner.

Colbon was denied a second try in the 14th minute for a foot in touch and then, after Stuart Fielden immediately conceded a cheap penalty for a flop, Richards had to clean up a clever kick from Scott Murrell at the expense of a drop-out with Ben Cockayne sniffing around.

Richards narrowly failed to extend the Wigan lead after 25 minutes following a high shot from Stanley Gene on Darrell Goulding, his penalty attempt sliding past the upright.

The Warriors were denied a second try five minutes before the interval when a crossfield kick from Barrett was taken by Colbon, who could not get a pass out to the supporting George Carmont because of a super ball-and-all tackle from Steel.

And then, three minutes from the hooter, Joel Tomkins was pulled back for a borderline forward pass as he scooted under the posts.

The Warriors defended four sets in a row on their own tryline as they held on for haklff-time, then went further ahead nine minutes into the second half, Barrett releasing Carmont, who drew the full-back and put Colbon in for his second try.

Richards converted to make it 10-0, but two quick scores by the visitors either side of the hour mark gave them the lead, at least briefly.

Trick

After 58 minutes, Ben Galea broke to send Chev Walker over by the posts, before James Webster repeated the trick three minutes later, offloading to the supporting Clint Newton to score despite the best efforts of Calderwood to get back and stop him.

Paul Cooke converted both to edge Rovers in front, although Richards levelled the scores within five minutes with a penalty from 35 yards out after Gene went high on Thomas Leuluai.

Another high tackle, this time Cockayne on Fielden, put Wigan back on the attack, and Briscoe twice had to concede drop-outs after Barrett kicks through.

The pressure eventually told when, with just four minutes remaining, Barrett shunned the chance of a possible match-winning drop goal to fire a long pass out to the right.

After a penetrating bust from Warriors skipper Sean O'Loughlin, Calderwood cut inside off his wing to score and Richards tagged on the extras to send the majority of a bumper Easter Monday crowd of 16,457 home happy.