Harlequins 28-47 Wigan Warriors
'Quins Suffer Heavy Defeat, But By No Means Disgraced.
Harlequins succumbed to a heavy defeat at home to Wigan Warriors at the Twickenham Stoop, however played with enough passion to show that they can compete again this season.
Many pundits have the London side down to finish near the bottom of the table, but scoring 28 points against a team tipped to be in the play-offs, is quite an achievement, despite shipping 47 points at the defensive end.
Wigan on the other hand, will be disappointed with shipping 28 points, despite winning handsomely. They face newly promoted Castleford on Friday night, and will be looking to avoid what could potentially be an embarassing performance.
For near on sixty minutes both Wigan and Harlequins were virtually countering each other, as the pendulum of both possession and the lead swung back and forth on several occasions.
Matt Gafa opened the scoring for ‘Quins just three minutes in to the match, but they were soon pegged back when youngster Darrell Goulding was given the opportunity to gain the first of his two tries of 2008.
Things got worse for the home side when Pat Richards, who kicked nine goals in total added two penalties to give Wigan an extended lead.
But the excellent Mark McLinden, a figurehead of the London based club, finished handsomely to restore Harlequins' lead.
But in likeness to 'Newton's cradle', Wigan restored the lead again thanks to Mark McIlorum's first try of the afternoon, duly converted by Richards who is fast becoming one of the best goalkickers in Super League.
Both sides however, went in all square at half-time when half-back Scott Hill showed what he could do, when the Wigan defence parted like Moses and the sea, and went over for another four pointer for the home side.
But in the second half it was all Wigan, despite Harlequins taking the lead through a penalty goal, and then a converted try all scored by Henry Paul, giving them an eight point lead. Things got worse for Wigan shortly afterwards when the excellent Gafa crossed for his second of the afternoon.
However, Harrison Hansen scored followed by another two tries in ten minutes from Darrell Goulding for his second, and Iafeta Paleaaesina to give the cherry and whites a 34-28 lead.
And from thereon Harlequins capitulated; Mike McIlorum crossed for his second try, and the rout was completed with Trent Barrett landing a field goal, followed by one last try from debutant Richie Mathers, on his return to England from Gold Coast Titans.
Full time score, Harlequins 28, Wigan 47.
