Wigan comeback stuns Dragons
A spirited second-half display earned Wigan an unlikely draw in the south of France with last-minute try-scorer Harrison Hansen emerging the hero.
Last Updated: 09/08/08 11:19pm
A spirited second-half display earned Wigan an unlikely draw in the south of France with last-minute try-scorer Harrison Hansen emerging the hero.
Warriors had been down by as much as 16-4 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus but Pat Richards inspired a fightback with his second try of the night before levelling the scores after Hansen's last-gasp effort.
There was little to separate the sides in a tight opening quarter but the Dragons broke through after 17 minutes when Aaron Gorrell powered over from dummy half.
A second try followed 10 minutes later after Joel Tomkins knocked on attempting an interception, Gorrell testing the Warriors line before putting Clint Greenshields through a gap to score.
Wigan found the going tough but at least managed to pull a try back before half-time when Richards brilliantly took Thomas Leuluai's long pass low down to go over.
The Dragons extended their advantage early in the second half from another dangerous Thomas Bosc kick, John Wilson this time racing past two Wigan players to catch and dive over.
Bosc made it 16-4 before having a try ruled out by the video referee, and Richards sparked the Warriors comeback when he raced through to touch down after Leuluai broke the Dragons line, and then converted from in front of the posts.
Bosc had an opportunity to take the Dragons out of reach but surprisingly missed a penalty from 20 metres - and the Warriors made him pay.
Liam Colbon first claimed a try from a Leuluai kick but again the video referee ruled it out, yet Wigan were not to be denied, and Leuluai was again the architect - setting up Hansen - and Richards secured the Warriors' point in taking his personal tally to 12 points.
"We deserved a point - and had the bounce of the ball gone our way, we may have got two points," said Wigan coach Brian Noble.
"We were aggressive in defence, and you have to be against this team."