RUGBY LEAGUE: Wig guns missed

Sunday Mirror, Feb 20, 2005 by DAVID BURKE

WIGAN Warriors will be glad when their big guns return.

The depleted side's rousing fightback wasn't enough to prevent their first Super League defeat by resurgent Wakefield.

The Warriors' youngsters, trailing 12-2 at the break, could have snatched victory had Danny Tickle not crucially missed two conversion attempts.

But it would be unfair to blame emergency prop Tickle although Wigan must have been left regretting injured skipper Andy Farrell was in the stand with coach Denis Betts. Terry Newton's converted try two minutes from time set up a frantic finale but Wakefield held on for their seventh successive Super League win.

Wigan, already forced to release injured new boy Luke Davico, were without Danny Sculthorpe, Brian Carney and Brett Dallas - apart from first-choice Farrell who is still considering a move to rugby union.

The Warriors are set to sign ex- Warrington forward Jerome Guisset from French RU club Pau and they need more firepower up front - quickly!

Warriors boss Betts, forced to include 12 players aged 24 or under, said: "I'm not using our inexperience as an excuse. We have plenty of quality in our side but sat back and let them play. Our effort and commitment was great but maybe we were lacking a bit of oomph up front. But that shouldn't affect the way we make decisions.

"We were dumb at times and forced passes when we shouldn't have done and kicked when we should have passed."

Betts showed he's not afraid to make big decisions by substituting new boy Dennis Moran early in the second half.

The Cats led 12-2 with tries from Jason Demetriou and a sizzling full length of the field interception effort from man of the match Jamie Rooney.

Wakefield have a gem in Rooney who returned from an injury-hit season last year to pile up 16 points at Bradford last week. The Cats lost ex-Wigan stand-off Julian O'Neill for a spell early in the second half in a daze after a tackle by Jerry Seuseu who was placed on report by referee Richard Silverwood.

Impressive Kiwi David Vaealiki, snapped up from Parramatta, grabbed his first try for Wigan to cut the gap to 12-6 courtesy of smart handling by Danny Orr and rookie Liam Colbon.

Wigan had sub Wayne Godwin sin-binned but the 12-man Warriors took advantage of Jamie Field's wild pass for Vaealiki's skills to send Gaz Hock over.

Semi Tadulala made it 18-10 but Wigan fought to the finish although Cats boss Shane McNally said: "We didn't play our best and kept inviting them back into the game. We made it tough for ourselves but deserved to win." Wigan went ahead with a fourth- minute Tickle goal before Newton conceded three penalties. Harrison Hansen's offside allowed Rooney to level midway through the first half.

Colum Halpenny was only denied a try by a thundering tackle from Danny Orr and Vaealiki. But two tries in four minutes by Demetriou and Rooney gave the Cats the initiative.

Kris Radlinski was held short before Moran tried to force the ball wide but his pass was snapped up by Rooney who raced 90m to score in the corner despite a desperate chase all the way by Colbon.

WAKEFIELD Tries: Demetriou, Rooney, Tadulala. Goals: Rooney 3.

WIGAN Tries: Vaealiki, Hock, Newton. Goals: Tickle 2.