Finals Week 1
Bradford Bulls 30 l. Wigan Warriors 31

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Wigan wins the comeback of all comebacks
Sat September 22, 2007
Source: www.wiganwarriors.com

This was unbelievable. In a simply sensational game at the Grattan Stadium Wigan Warriors produced a magnificent final 30 minutes to claw back and win this engage Super League Elimination Play-Off match against all the odds 31-30 against the Bradford Bulls. Richards with a late drop goal to snatch the win.

This was the comeback of all come backs. The Warriors were 22-6 down at the interval thanks largely to a first half hat-trick from David Solomona and with a 30-6 advantage early in the second, it was fair to say it looked game over. Just as it looked as if the home side had booked their place in the next stage all of a sudden, Wigan came to life and scored a hat-trick themselves in a ten minute spell.

There was then a sense of belief, desire and when the Warriors levelled at 30 all it was down to Pat Richards to slot home the winning point from 20 metres out with just a few minutes left. The Warriors had the momentum and the Bulls were simply stunned.

The Bulls took the lead with just four minutes on the clock. Newton with a long pass and McKenna had David Solomona in support. He was able to cut inside the Warriors defence for the first try, Iestyn Harris added the extras, 6-0.

Wigan looked to respond and earned a goal line drop out on 14 minutes after a Leuluai kick was cleared by Platt. A cross field kick by Barrett was taken by Tupou as the Warriors looked to turn up the heat.

On 19 minutes, Barrett sent Richards away down the left. His kick on was well defended by the full back Platt.

Bradford were in for their second try on 23 minutes, a mistake by Mark Calderwood from a Harris kick allowed the Bulls six more tackles and from another kick to the corner Tame Tupou was able to dive on a loose ball to extend the home sides lead. Harris added a superb conversion to give Bradford a 12-0 advantage.

On 27 minutes, Wigan were right back in it. Barrett sent out a long pass which split the Bulls defence and David Vaealiki was able to gather and draw the full back to send in Thomas Leuluai for the try. Richards goal made it 12-6.

The Bulls restored their 12 point advantage as half time approached. David Solomona diving over from acting half back. The video referee awarding the try, benefit of the doubt as he just managed to ground despite the close attention of both Higham and Richards.18-6 to the Bulls.

Wigan gave away a penalty for holding down in the tackle and Bradford took advantage. Harris with a pass to Solomona who stretched out for his hat-trick with just two minutes of the first half left. This time the conversion was missed, 22-6.

Wigan needed the first try of the second half to try and claw their way back into it but it wasn't to be. Within two minutes of the restart Morrison combined with Ben Harris and then Iestyn Harris for the try which he himself converted, 28-6 and a huge task now facing Brian Noble's men.

A high tackle by Skipper Sean O'Loughlin was put on report and from the penalty Harris added another two points, 30-6 with 49 minutes on the clock.

The deficit was reduced as Mark Calderwood crossed for Wigan's second try following a pass by Phil Bailey. Richards goal made it 30-12 on 57 minutes.

Credit to the Warriors despite the score they did continue to battle to try and find a way back forcing two goal line drop outs in quick succession. The Warriors scored again through Calderwood out wide as Barrett sent out a great pass. The extras were added 30-18 with 16 minutes left.

Within two minutes Wigan had made it three tries in 9 minutes as Barrett sent in Harrison Hansen for the points. Richards slotted over the goal 30-24, game well and truly on.

Unbelievably the Bulls lost possession in their own half and Mark Calderwood raced away to the huge delight of the travelling fans for another Wigan try, his third of the evening. Richard's conversion made it all square 30-30.

Richards added a sensational drop goal with four minutes left and although Bradford did get up the other end they couldn't get on the scoreboard.

The players and fans couldn't believe what they had witnessed. This was awesome and Wigan spectators stood to a man to cheer their heroes off. They will now travel to Hull or Huddersfield next Saturday night.

Report source: www.wiganwarriors.com

Article: Noble thrilled for the players


Warriors win last-gasp thriller
Sat September 22, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Wigan Warriors staged the most remarkable comeback in play-off history to snatch a 31-30 victory in their engage Super League elimination clash at Odsal and bring Bradford Bulls' season to a sudden and dramatic end.

The Warriors looked down and out when they trailed 30-6 after an hour but a hat-trick of tries from winger Mark Calderwood enabled them to draw level and full-back Pat Richards edged his side in front for the first time with a drop goal four minutes from the end.

Wigan, who only secured the last place in the play-off series thanks to a shock last-day victory over St Helens, will now fancy their chances of going all the way to Old Trafford.

They will face another away game, against Hull or Huddersfield in next Saturday's semi-final, but will fear no one after this astonishing display of never-say-side courage.

There was no hint of the drama to come, however, as a hat-trick of tries from New Zealand Test forward David Solomona put Bradford in complete command.

The Bulls looked full of enthusiasm and dominated for an hour, shaking off the disappointment of losing prop forward Chris Feather with a dislocated right shoulder.

The former Leeds and Wakefield player, who only recently came back from a broken ankle, went off after 25 minutes and was taken to hospital at half-time.

Also without captain Paul Deacon, who remains troubled by a hamstring injury, the Bulls still had plenty of game-breakers, especially the classy Solomona, who scored the game's first try after only three minutes.

Prop Andy Lynch's smart offload created the opening and the former Wakefield second rower brushed off Calderwood's attempted tackle before wrong-footing full-back Richards to claim his 12th try of the season.

Iestyn Harris, who took over both the scrum-half and goalkicking duties from Deacon, added the conversion to put the Bulls 6-0 up and they went on to establish a stranglehold on the game.

Full-back Michael Platt had to get back to make safe a dangerous kick from Richards during a rare moment of danger for the home defence while Wigan had a let-off when Bradford winger Tame Tupou hacked ahead following more good work from Solomona but miscued the ball into touch.

It was no surprise, though, when Bradford extended their lead on 22 minutes, courtesy of a couple of fumbles from Calderwood.

He conceded possession by failing to deal with Iestyn Harris' grubber punt and then lost the ball from Terry Newton's high kick, allowing Tupou to touch down for a soft try.

Harris' second goal, this time from near the touchline, made it 12-0 but Wigan gave themselves hope when Trent Barrett's long pass exposed a gap on the Bradford right and centre David Vaealiki burst clear to send Thomas Leuluai over.

The Warriors faced an uphill task when Solomona forced his way over the line eight minutes before the break and, although Wigan hooker Mick Higham looked to have got his body under the ball, video referee Phil Bentham gave him the benefit of the doubt.

There was no doubt over the next try, with Solomona taking Iestyn Harris' pass and stretching out of a tackle to plant the ball on the line to register his first hat-trick for the Bulls.

The match looked to be over as a contest within three minutes of the restart when Bradford scored a fifth try.

Acting captain Glenn Morrison, making a useful contribution in his makeshift role of stand-off, burst through the first line of defence and centre Ben Harris was in support to send Iestyn Harris over.

The Welsh international added the conversion and shortly afterwards made it 30-6 with a penalty after Wigan captain had been placed on report for a high tackle on him.

When Calderwood went over for Wigan's second try on 56 minutes, it looked to be nothing more than consolation but the visitors managed to retain possession and, with Barrett enjoying more and more influence, they piled on the pressure.

Barrett's long pass got Calderwood over for his second try five minutes later and the Australian stand-off was again the provider when second rower Harrison Hansen smashed through the Bradford defence on 65 minutes.

The Bulls were then pressing for the killer blow when Calderwood snapped up a casual pass from Shontayne Hape and sprinted 80 metres to complete his hat-trick.

Richards maintained his 100 per cent record by kicking his fifth goal to level the scores and he edged his side in front for the first time four minutes from the end with a drop goal.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Noble feels for beaten Bulls

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