Rugby League: Liam Farrell fires Wigan to end Saints’ winning sequence

Wigan ended the 100 per cent Super League record of neighbours St Helens in a derby of high quality at Langtree Park yesterday. Liam Farrell produced two devastating finishes to score two of the Warriors’ five tries and former St Helens scrum-half Matty Smith kicked six goals and a drop goal in a 33-14 victory. Wigan’s fifth win in a row takes them to within four points of their table-topping rivals.

Wigan were also indebted to a wonderful all-round game from captain Sean O’Loughlin, while second-rower John Bateman proved a revelation as a stop-gap centre.

Two tries from winger Rhys Evans and a 12-point haul from centre Chris Bridge helped Warrington to a convincing 44-6 derby success over Widnes at the Halliwell Jones stadium.

Evans claimed two second-half tries and Bridge scored a try and four goals from five attempts as Tony Smith’s side found some form after their indifferent start to the season.

Warrington cruised to a 24-0 lead at half-time through tries from Bridge, Michael Monaghan, Joel Monaghan and Gareth O’Brien, all converted by Bridge. They made sure of victory in the second half with Evans claiming two tries and Ben Currie and Ryan Atkins also touching down with Stefan Ratchford adding two further conversions.

Castleford shrugged off their heartbreaking setback to St Helens last time out by defeating Wakefield 43-20 at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium. The Tigers blew a 24-6 lead against the Saints to lose 30-28 a week ago, but they returned to winning ways yesterday, with Richard Owen, Daryl Clark and Scott Wheeldon each scoring twice while there were also tries for Justin Carney and Liam Finn to consolidate third place in the Super League.

They must have feared the worst, however, when Wakefield scored two tries at the start of the second half to cut the deficit down to six points, but this time they held their nerve.