Warriors rally to beat Quins
Hot favourites Wigan overcame a scare against Harlequins at the Stoop, running in five second-half tries to win 47-28.
Last Updated: 09/02/08 6:10pm
Hot favourites Wigan overcame a scare against Harlequins at the Stoop, running in five second-half tries to win 47-28 in their opening game of the season.
Matthew Gafa scored the first of two tries in the third minute to set Quins on their way and when he scored again 10 minutes after the interval the hosts were leading by 12 points and on course for a shock win.
But Harrison Hansen got on the scoresheet for the Warriors and with Darrell Goulding and Mike McIlorum adding to earlier scores and Iaseta Paleaaesina and Richard Mathers also crossing, Wigan pulled away in the final quarter of the match.
Winger Pat Richards produced a near-faultless kicking display, landing nine goals for the Warriors, while Trent Barrett scored a second-half drop goal.
Wigan replied quickly to Gafa's early score when Goulding went over after good work from Barrett and debutant Mathers, and Barrett then kicked them into the lead with two penalties.
But Quins hit back with a try under the posts by Mark McLinden after a dancing run, while substitute McIlorum restored Wigan's lead, forcing his way through the Quins defence five minutes before half-time.
Quins then drew level in a topsy-turvy first 40 minutes just before the break, Scott Hill capitalising on Gafa's grubber kick with Henry Paul converting.
Playmaker Paul scored and converted his own try after only three minutes of the second period and was quickly followed over by Gafa, leaving Harlequins firmly in control.
But in a period of just eight minutes, Wigan turned the game on its head thanks to tries by Hansen, a second from Goulding and a powerful score from prop Paleaaesina.
McIlorum touched down for his second of the game before Mathers added another in the final minute to complete the scoring.
