 Richie Barnett went over in the corner for Warrington's first try |
Wigan: (2) 10
Tries: Calderwood, Vaealiki
Goals: Richards
Warrington: (12) 16
Tries: Barnett, Anderson
Goals: Briers (4)
Warrington began the season with a hard-fought win but paid a price as they lost Chris Bridge and Adrian Morley to worrying-looking injuries.
Bridge tore a hamstring before Richie Barnett's dance over to score in the corner and Vinnie Anderson's dive from close range put them up at the break.
Morley's left eye closed up after Eamon O'Carroll slipped through his grasp.
Tries by Mark Calderwood and David Vaealiki put Wigan back in it but Lee Briers' kicking won it for the Wolves.
In dreadful weather, Wigan enjoyed the better of the early exchanges but could not turn their territory into points, so it fell to Barnett to open the scoring.
He cut in from the touchline to score after Paul Johnson's dummy took two Wigan defenders out of the game.
Another clever dummy by Briers to Rob Parker allowed Anderson to add a second try from close range.
The sleet turned to rain in the second half as the pitch cut up, and Morley's injury combined with Calderwood's touchdown from a cross-field kick put the home side back in the match.
Mickey Higham's basketball-style pass put Vaealiki over in the corner to ensure a tense finale but Briers' reliable kicking proved the difference between the sides.
Wigan coach Brian Noble:
"We're all a bit disappointed but there is plenty of room for improvement with the ball for us. "We looked a bit rusty out there. But our six and seven have only had a week of work together.
"I thought we were a bit impatient at times, and we gave away too many silly penalties which gave them free field position.
"On a night like that where it is cold and wet, the team that got its nose ahead was going to stick there."
Warrington coach Paul Cullen:
"Defensively I thought we were fantastic. We handled everything that was thrown at us tonight, including a couple of potentially very serious injuries. "To lose your stand-off in the opening two or three minutes in a game like this is a huge test - and we handled it manfully.
"Chris Bridge has potentially torn a hamstring and Adrian Morley has potentially fractured an eye socket, but that's the nature of the beast, and it shows how tough this game is."
Wigan: Ashton, Calderwood, Bailey, Withers, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Millard, Paleaaesina, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin, Higham, Vaealiki, Hansen, O'Carroll.
Warrington: Reardon, Fa'afili, M. Gleeson, Johnson, Barnett, Bridge, Briers, Leikvoll, Clarke, Rauhihi, Morley, Westwood, Anderson, Wainwright, Wood, Parker, Sullivan.
Att: 21,693
Ref: S Ganson (St Helens).
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