Match Report – St Helens 0 – 32 Wigan

Wigan Warriors scored six tries to succeed in their third Problem Cup ultimate in 5 years; Jack Farrimond and Zach Eckersley each registered two tries within the 32-0 victory; Wembley Stadium hosts the ultimate on Could 30

Wigan Warriors summoned a stirring defensive effort to crush rivals St Helens 32-0 and ebook their return to Wembley Stadium within the Betfred Problem Cup ultimate later this month.

Jack Farrimond and Zach Eckersley every scored a brace to do the harm on the scoreboard as Matt Peet’s males shrugged off their latest Tremendous League travails in emphatic vogue in Warrington.

However the end result informed solely half the story because the file 21-time winners had been pressured to repel wave after wave of Saints assaults earlier than seizing their moments in medical vogue.

Wigan will now face both Warrington Wolves or Hull KR within the ultimate on Could 30, as they appear to win the Problem Cup for the third time in 5 seasons.

Wigan thrash Saints to safe Wembley return

Looking their first ultimate since 2021, Saints arguably entered as favourites after successful their final 5 in all competitions – together with a dramatic Good Friday success towards their ailing opponents.

Paul Rowley’s facet shrugged off the first-minute lack of Matty Lees with a knee harm to dominate the early area place however could be ruthlessly punished for failing to make that dominance depend.

Wigan grabbed the lead of their first actual assault after a second of brilliance from Brad O’Neill. The hooker roved ahead and shrugged off two Saints tackles, taking part in a neat-one two with Jay Discipline earlier than off-loading for Farrimond to attain the opener.

Farrimond scored two tries for Wigan of their spectacular victory

Adam Keighran kicked a penalty however Saints responded by persevering with to pile on the strain. Lewis Murphy was responsible of losing one other good alternative, whereas Jackson Hastings was denied by some scrambled Wigan defence on their try-line.

Wigan stepped issues up within the ultimate 10 minutes of the half. Farrimond’s intelligent kick was helped on by Keighran and Eckersley flopped onto the free ball to steer his facet into double-figures.

Eckersley produced an acrobatic end to seal his second within the nook after one other very good piece of labor from Farrimond, whose floated move to Keighran created the area for his team-mate to ship the winger over.

Wigan final gained the Problem Cup in 2024

Saints’ first-half distress was full simply earlier than the hooter when Joe Shorrocks’ quick move was intercepted by Jake Wardle who gleefully charged clear for Wigan’s fourth, with Harry Smith booting them 22-0 up on the break.

Saints got here out firing once more after the break, piling on the strain on the again of a Smith knock-on, however regardless of deploying their battering rams they merely couldn’t discover the innovation to crack Wigan’s resolute defence.

Alex Walmsley, Deon Cross and Jack Welsby all edged inside inches to no avail, and because the minutes ticked by Saints’ frustration started to mount, and Welsby was sin-binned with 15 to go after interference within the ruck.

Tempers inevitably started to fray within the dying levels however Wigan remained admirably resolute, slowly squashing any hopes their opponents had of wrestling their means again into the sport.

Fittingly, a scoreless second interval was damaged within the seventy fifth minute when the excellent Farrimond surged over to attain Wigan’s fifth, and Smith’s neat kick despatched Keighran over to finish their win on the hooter.

What’s subsequent?

The opposite semi-final takes place on Sunday, with Warrington Wolves internet hosting defending champions Hull KR in a repeat of final yr’s ultimate (4pm kick off). The ultimate then takes place at Wembley Stadium on Could 30.

St Helens return to Tremendous League motion on Thursday after they journey to Huddersfield Giants, stay on Sky Sports activities+ from 8pm. Wigan host Leeds Rhinos on Friday, stay from 7.30pm on Sky Sports activities Motion and Sky Sports activities+.

Sky Sports activities will once more present each sport of the Tremendous League stay this season – together with two matches in every spherical solely stay, with the remaining 5 matches every week proven on Sky Sports activities+