Super League: Wigan Warriors 52-6 Toulouse Olympique
Super League: Wigan Warriors 52-6 Toulouse Olympique, Toulouse’s Super League survival hopes had been dealt a significant blow by a rampant Wigan that edged closer to a top-two finish in the tally.
The French side was four points adrift at the bottom ahead of the game. The loss and Wakefield’s victory mean they have to win their three remaining games.
Wigan returned resoundingly from the shock loss at Wakefield last week and was helped by Bevan French’s hat-trick.
The try of Matty Russell was a rare bright note on a tough night for Toulouse.
Sylvain Houles’ team could mathematically be relegated by fellow French side Catalans Dragons.
Wigan has Huddersfield lurking three points behind with three games to be played. Wigan will be taking on rivals St Helens in the first game of the Bank Holiday double-header next week.
Matt Peet’s side was a tough test for Toulouse to have to tackle in the desperate need for points, provided their result at Wakefield last weekend and the push for the playoffs.
The Cherry and Whites showed no mercy for the visitors. They cut loose early on from a scrum play and released French for his opener, and they ran amok from there.
Kaide Ellis managed to slip a perfect pass to Harry Smith. Jake Bibby pulled away from the defense for a fourth try before the break.
French scored to bring up the treble, the first score supporting a Jai Field break and the second swooping on an error.
Kai Pearce-Paul had a score, while Cust’s second and Liam Farrell’s effort brought up the 50. Russell put in against his old club,
Wigan boss Matt Peet said:
“I am quite happy overall, we were professional with quite a short turnaround after a disappointing game last weekend.”
“Without being great we got the job done. I do not think it was the most intense of games, loads of reasons for that like the turnaround.”
“But we came through it healthily, got some points on the board and defensively remained solid.”
Wigan: Field; Cust, Smith; French, Bibby, Pearce-Paul, Miski; Singleton, Farrell, Bateman, O’Neill, Byrne, Partington.
Interchanges: Shorrocks, Mago, Ellis, McDonnell.
Toulouse: Hankinson; Gigot, Albert; Marcon, Jussaume, Armitage, Russell; Navarrete, Stefani, Pezet, Peats, Alvaro, Marion.
Interchanges: Pelissier, Cunningham, Puech, Belmas.
The referee is Tom Grant.
Betfred Super League
Wigan (24) 52
Tries
French 3
Cust 2
Smith
Bibby
Pearce-Paul
Farrell
Goals
Smith 8
Toulouse (0) 6
Tries
Russell
Goals
Hankinson