Leaders Wigan edge past York to extend 100% start
Wigan Warriors had to battle back from 14 points down against Super League newcomers York Knights to maintain their 100% winning start to the campaign. York, who shocked defending champions Hull KR on the opening day of the season, silenced the Brick Community Stadium as David Nofoaluma and Paul Vaughan scored tries and Danny Richardson added a penalty to his two conversions. The sin-binning of Ata Hingano, after the Knights conceded a series of penalties, changed the game as Liam Marshall scored two tries for the league leaders while the away side were down to 12 men.
Wigan edged ahead after the break as 20-year-old full-back Noah Hodkinson scored on his Super League debut, but a Richardson penalty levelled the score. Adam Keighran's try and conversion and a Harry Smith drop-goal gave the Warriors the breathing space they needed for a fifth straight league win as Hingano's try brought some late drama. Wigan were lacking the stardust of Bevan French and Jai Field, which meant Hodkinson, who impressed on his debut in the Challenge Cup last week, was entrusted with the full-back role and he did not disappoint.
It was York, with two wins and two defeats from their opening four matches, who started the quickest and their fans could barely believe it as they scored 14 points without reply in the opening 25 minutes. Winger Nofoaluma picked up and dashed over for the opener after Wigan had made a mess of defending a wayward Paul McShane kick on the last tackle, before veteran prop Vaughan burst over with three tacklers hanging onto him. Richardson, who was impeccable with the boot after coming back into the side to replace injured York half-back Liam Harris, added two more points.
However, as Wigan pressed hard, the Knights' discipline wobbled and Hingano paid the price with a yellow card. While he was off the field, Wigan twice spread the play quickly to the left and Marshall showed why he has been one of Super League's best finishers in recent seasons with two tries. The Warriors finally moved ahead when Hodkinson, fielding a Junior Nsemba knock-back from a kick, seemed to have been wrapped up but wriggled out of Jesse Dee's tackle and raced over the line.
York refused to lie down as Wigan seemed to be gathering momentum and a successful captain's challenge eventually led to a penalty, which Richardson kicked to make it 16-16. Wigan pressed again, with Jack Farrimond's delayed pass freeing Keighran for a try he converted himself, and Smith's one-pointer proved vital. That was because York - making a real fist of their first Super League campaign - roared back up the other end through Sam Cook, who returned to the club on loan from Newcastle Thunder this week, and he set up Hingano to give Wigan a few jitters before the final hooter.