Rugby League: Wigan boss Noble saved

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Mar 1, 2009 | by DAVID BURKE

HARLEQUINS 18

WIGAN 24

BRIAN NOBLE was 6-4 favourite to be the first Super League boss for the chop before Wigan avoided their worst start to the season for 43 years.

Those odds will have lengthened after Noble's men ended a run of three opening defeats thanks to Quins' generosity.

Wigan trailed 18-14 until Chad Randall threw out a wild pass which was intercepted by Amos Roberts seven minutes from time and the ex-Sydney Roosters winger grabbed his first try for the club. Pat Richards tagged on the conversion and then Man of the Match Shaun Ainscough latched on to Sean O'Loughlin's kick to bag his second touchdown and seal the win.

Wigan were indebted to 19-year-olds Ainscough and sub Sam Tomkins, who marked his Super League debut by setting up a try for George Carmont with a searing break.

Noble admitted: "It is a relief and I am delighted for the players because there was pressure on them. We are still not playing as we'd like but we did not panic and needed more urgency in the second half."

Warrington boss Jimmy Lowes is the new favourite for the axe after three opening defeats but Noble slammed: "It wasn't quite as pressurised as what some people think - it is just headlines at this time of the year."

Local lad Ainscough made a try-scoring debut against Castleford last week and his brace proved crucial. He collected Carmont's pass to round Jon Wells for the opening try and took a gamble to produce a wonder pass from Tomkins' burst to send Carmont over straight from the restart.

Tomkins grabbed a record five tries on his first appearance to demolish Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup last year before notching a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly at Warrington.

Noble said: "Shaun played well last week to keep his place and Sam showed he's going to be a good player."

Wigan had their luck, being awarded a disputed Phil Bailey try before video ref Ben Thaler ruled out a Will Sharp touchdown for the Quins. But Thaler had also awarded Randall an early try despite a knock-on by Luke Dorn in the build-up.

Former Wiganer Chris Melling looked to have secured victory for Quins before Randall's mistake.

Tomkins said: "There are a lot of young players dying for a chance." Ainscough and Tomkins have certainly grabbed their opportunities and should be the first names on Noble's teamsheet to face his old club Bradford.

Quins boss Brian McDermott said: "We had enough field position and ball to win but the scoreline doesn't lie."

HARLEQUINS: Tries - Randall, Gafa, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Melling. Goals - Orr.

WIGAN: Tries - Ainscough (2), Carmont, Bailey, Roberts.

Goals - Richards 2.

BOBBIE GOULDING, the former Great Britain scrum half, is the shock choice to replace John Monie as French national coach on a threeyear contract. Goulding, 37, has been out of work since being sacked by Rochdale last May and admitted when approached for the job: "I thought it was one of my mates messing about!"