Farrell tears KR’s hopes into shreds
RUGBY LEAGUE HUL KR 22 WIGAN 26 AET
LIAM FARRELL’S hat-trick try in golden-point extra-time saw Wigan break Hull KR hearts.
Warriors looked set for defeat before winger Abbas Miski produced a brilliant finish on the final hooter to level the game.
But Harry Smith could not convert from wide out, missing his fourth goal from five attempts. Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis struck a post with a drop goal in extra-time.
But thenWigan star Bevan French found space in the fifth extra minute to break clear and find England second-row Farrell, below, on his shoulder.
His side had been set for a third successive Super League defeat but they kept second spot just ahead of the excellent Robins.
Wigan had been in control after tries from Farrell (2) and Liam Marshall gave them a 14-4 lead.
But Willie Peters’ inspired side fought back brilliantly.
Rovers began their fightback when down to 12 men with Ryan Hall in the sin-bin.
Matt Parcell produced a turnaround with Elliot Minchella and slipped James Batchelor through from close range on the hour.
Lewis’ conversion put the hosts ahead for the first time at 16-14. And then Luis Johnson, on his first Robins appearance of the season after being on loan at Castleford, scored his first try in 21 months.
The second-row latched on to Jez Litten’s fine grubber, Lewis doing the rest.
Winger Marshall added a second to set up a frantic finish and Miski forced extra-time.
Veteran England winger Hall, 35, had got KR up and running in the 22nd minute.
Scrum-half Lewis dared to jink back infield on the last tackle before finding Minchella, who squeezed his own offload out to Hall.
That made it 4-4 after Farrell had givenWigan a 12th-minute lead.And, at 10-4 ahead at the break, theWarriors appeared in control before the late drama.