Rugby League: Briers atones for late misses
Warrington Wolves 17 Wigan Warriors 17
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.WARRINGTON'S Lee Briers kept his frayed nerves intact to secure the point that was the least his side deserved from this fierce and compelling game, writes Dave Hadfield.
The scrum-half, who had failed with two penalties, kicked a drop goal in injury time that earned the Wolves a draw after Phil Jones' 75th minute penalty for Wigan had seemed to condemn them to defeat.
Briers and Toa Kohe-Love, Warrington's outstanding players all season, had turned the match in their direction in the minutes leading up to half- time.
They were trailing 9-2 when a Briers high kick produced a fumble from Jones and Kohe-Love, Super League's leading try scorer, swooped for another.
A minute before the break, an exquisitely delayed pass from Briers sent Kohe-Love steaming through and he was there to take the return ball for a try, which he also converted.
It got better still for Warrington when Tony Mestrov was sent to the sin-bin in injury time for holding down Kohe-Love and Briers put over the penalty for a five point lead.
Warrington had looked competitive from the start, although after an early exchange of penalties, Andy Farrell had given Wigan the whip hand with a powerful run on to Tony Smith's pass and straight through Dean Busby's tackle. Jones's conversion and a Farrell field goal increased Wigan's advantage.
At the start of the second half, Lee Penny's mistake presented Gary Connolly with a simple try. Jones then landed a penalty after Mark Forster strayed offside.
Kohe-Love had a try disallowed as the tension mounted, but Briers put Warrington back in front after Denis Betts was caught offside. Briers then missed an easy kick after Jon Clarke had been penalised for a high tackle on Danny Nutley.
Five minutes from time, Warrington, for their enterprise, seemed to have self-destructed. As Wigan piled on the pressure, Nutley gave away a penalty for flopping on to Connolly.
Jones put it over, but Wigan could have been behind again when Danny Moore was punished for holding down Wilson. This time Briers missed badly from wide out, but his vindicating moment was not far away.
Warrington Wolves: Penny; Forster, Kohe-Love, Roper, Hunte; Wilson, Wilson; Briers, Chambers, Farrar, Nutley, Gillies, Busby, Knott. Substitutes used: Hanger, Stevens, Wainwright, McCurrie.
Wigan Warriors: Radlinski; Robinson, Moore, Connolly, Jones; Florimo, T Smith; Cowie, Clarke, O'Connor, Betts, Cassidy, Farrell. Substitutes used: Mestrov, Haughton, Gilmour, M Smith.
Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments