Wigan made the perfect start to their new Betfred Super League campaign with a 36-16 win away at Toulouse, with Zach Eckersley and Adam Keeglan scoring two tries each.
The Warriors, who defeated Lee 54-0 in their last game, took the lead seven minutes later when Eckersley dived into the corner. Keiglan then barged over immediately after a quick attack to score a second try, which was confirmed on review and the Australians calmly added another point.
Wigan’s onslaught continued and Keiglan found another goal after a short pass from Jack Farrimond for their third goal.
Eckersley touched down in the right corner 24 minutes later, and Keiglan caught what looked like a hat trick, but it was canceled out by a knock-on.
Toulouse, who lost in the first round to Bradford last week, finally stepped up the pressure, with Bevan French making a try-saving tackle to deny Oliver Acharbot.
The home team fell just before half-time when Ashal Bott collected a kick and Jake Shorrocks converted to make it 18-6 at half-time.
Warriors remain undefeated to start the season
The second half got off to a modest start, but Wigan extended their lead in the 53rd minute when the Frenchman showed his quickness and broke through.
Toulouse were then awarded a penalty try when Liam Marshall brought down Ashal Bott as they chased a kick-through to close the gap once again.
Farrimond’s quick break then allowed Brad O’Neill to clear on the hour mark, but Toulouse hit back again as Benjamin Laguerre stretched out in the corner following a French tackle and was awarded a try after a video review for a possible loss of control of the ball.
However, Wigan secured another impressive win with a quickly taken penalty which saw Farrimond pop out again to beat Sam Walters.
Warriors head coach Matt Peat said: “It was a brave performance. Credit to Toulouse for challenging us and posing problems. We had a good start and we had to take it and we did.”
“Certainly there are things we are looking at and things we could have done better technically, but playing here presents challenges in many ways. We are still in the early stages. There will be challenges to overcome in the future, but I like the mentality of this group.”
St Helens return to beat Bradford
A late try from Deon Cross saw St Helens emerge victorious 26-22 in an eventful encounter with 12-man Bradford at the Brewdog Stadium.
Saints overturned a 16-4 deficit to take the lead in the final 20 minutes, but needed a late cross to secure their third successive win after shocking Andy Ackers with a try.
Shane Wright scored a touchdown to put the Saints ahead five minutes later, but it was the hosts’ only points of the first half.
Bradford responded eight minutes later with an Ethan Ryan try and added another point with a Luke Fourie penalty after David Kremer was sent to the sinbin.
Deon Cross scores the winning try
Bradford scored a try with a touchdown in the 21st minute to make it 10-4, and two minutes into the second half Bradford crossed a second whitewash and extended their lead with Hooley’s score.
The hosts responded with a try from Curtis Sironen, which was converted by Jackson Hastings, and then a try from Tristan Saylor in the 49th minute to equalize.
The Bulls were forced to play shorthanded for the rest of the game when Elliott Peposi was sent off for a high tackle in the 53rd minute, and a minute later Kyle Feldt put Saints ahead with a try.
The Ackers pulled the teams back on level terms with a 64th-minute try after Joe Shorrocks was sent to the sin-bin and Hooley’s conversion put the Bulls back in front, but a 75th-minute try from Cross and Hastings’ third conversion sealed the match.
