THAT’S MORG LIKE IT
Escare is the difference as Warriors grind it out
FRENCH international Morgan Escare provided rare moments of polish on a filthy night as Wigan confirmed a home semi-final.
Both sides were plagued by handling errors in the driving rain, putting scoring chances at a premium.
Escare – who only came into the starting line-up after Tommy Leuluai was a late withdrawal through injury – took one of those by evading Lee Gaskell to score in the first half.
And when he slotted over a drop goal just after the hour it created a two-score lead that was always likely to be enough in the wet.
These are often the conditions for Grand Final night at Old Trafford come October, with Wigan looking to send departing coach Shaun Wane and several players out on a high.
But they will know they have to play better than this when they come up against their topfour rivals in the play-offs, which take place in a fortnight.
Wane’s team can make history before then. If they beat struggling Hull FC at home next Friday they will become the only team to win every Super 8s match, with the controversial structure being scrapped for 2019. But it is what comes after that which counts.
And although this was far from vintage Warriors, they have now won their last seven matches.
Wigan actually started brightly, with Tom Davies having an early try claim ruled out and Sam Tomkins slotting a penalty awarded for interference.
Escare then provided his first touch of class, beating Gaskell to score and make it 6-0.
It stayed that way for 43 errorridden minutes as both sides struggled to find any kind of fluidity in the soggy conditions.
The full-back stretched his side’s lead with a drop goal that was fittingly scruffy before the Giants finally stirred.
Impressive hooker Kruise Leeming forced his way over from dummy half to close the gap to one point.
But after home skipper Danny Brough was sin-binned for a high tackle, Oliver Gildart touched down George Williams’ kick to confirm Wigan’s win.