Harry Smith’s drop goal proves decisive as Wigan Warriors edge past York Knights
Wigan Warriors preserved their perfect start to the Super League season, but were pushed all the way in a dramatic 23-22 victory over York Knights at the Brick Community Stadium.
It was the visitors who struck first and stunned the home crowd with a fast start. York opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Adam Keighran failed to deal with a clever Paul McShane chip, allowing David Nofoaluma to pounce out wide. Danny Richardson added the extras for a 6-0 lead. York thought they had doubled their advantage shortly after through Ben Jones-Bishop, only for the effort to be ruled out by the video referee for a foot in touch.
The Knights continued to threaten, with Jones-Bishop then intercepting a loose Wigan pass and racing clear, only to be hauled down by an excellent chase from Noah Hodkinson. That let-off proved temporary as York crossed again in the 19th minute, Paul Vaughan powering over from close range, with Richardson’s conversion making it 12-0. A penalty goal soon after stretched the lead to 14-0 and left Wigan with a mountain to climb.
The momentum began to swing in the 28th minute when York halfback Ata Hingano was sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements at the ruck. Wigan immediately capitalised, moving the ball sharply to the right for Liam Marshall to finish in the corner, with Keighran converting. Just three minutes later, Marshall was in again, capping a slick move sparked by Harry Smith and Junior Nsemba, though Keighran was unable to add the extras as Wigan closed the gap to 14-10 at the break.
Wigan came out strongly in the second half and thought Marshall had completed his hat-trick, only for the video referee to again deny him for being in touch. However, the Warriors would not be denied for long. In the 52nd minute, Hodkinson crossed for his first senior Wigan try to give the hosts the lead for the first time, with Keighran converting to make it 16-14.
York responded through Richardson’s boot, levelling the scores at 16-16 with a penalty goal just before the hour mark. But Wigan regained control in the 64th minute, as Jack Farrimond’s neat skill created space for Keighran to score, before the centre converted his own try to open up a six-point lead.
Harry Smith added a crucial drop goal with ten minutes remaining to give Wigan some breathing room at 23-16, a scoreline that proved vital as York mounted a late charge. With five minutes to go, Hingano atoned for his earlier sin-bin by finishing off a quick play-the-ball from Sam Cook, and Richardson’s conversion reduced the deficit to a single point.
Despite late pressure from the Knights, Wigan held firm in a tense finale to secure a narrow 23-22 win and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Wigan: Noah Hodkinson; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Liam Farrell, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Sam Walters, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Patrick Mago, Ollie Partington, Sam Eseh, Nathan Lowe. 18th man: Taylor Kerr.
Tries: Marshall (2), Hodkinson, Keighran | Goals: Keighran 3/4 | Drop Goals: Smith 1
York: Toa Mata’afa; Ben Jones-Bishop, Sam Wood, Nikau Williams, David Nofoaluma; Ata Hingano, Danny Richardson; Xavier Va’a, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan, Josh Griffin, Jesse Dee, Sam Cook. Subs: Denive Balmforth, Jack Martin, Justin Sangare, Oli Field. 18th man: Scott Galeano.
Tries: Nofoaluma, Vaughan, Hingano | Goals: Richardson 5/5
Referee: Marcus Griffiths | Attendance: 13,187