BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Super League | Farrell comes through Wigan romp


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Thursday, 4 July, 2002, 21:16 GMT 22:16 UK

Farrell comes through Wigan romp

Andy Farrell played the first 70 minutes

Wigan 28-10 Halifax

Skipper Andy Farrell boosted Great Britain's hopes ahead of next week's Test against Australia in Sydney, safely negotiating his return after a three-match injury absence.

The inspirational 27-year-old Wigan loose-forward was excused kicking duties for the night rather than risk aggravating his troublesome groin injury.

Farrell had two tries ruled out by referee Karl Kirkpatrick - one for a double movement and the other when he lost the ball over the line - as he eased himself back.

It wasn't a great performance and we bombed a lot of chances

Wigan coach
Stuart Raper

But he also had a hand in setting up three of the Wigan tries - including a rare one for prop Terry O'Connor - before being replaced after 70 minutes.

Wigan romped into an early 16-0 lead, with two of the tries coming in a devastating three minute spell, but Halifax clawed their way back to close the gap at half time to 16-10.

The Warriors' opener came when skipper Brett Goldspink lost the ball 20 metres out in the tackle from O'Neill and Gary Connolly sent in Australian Jamie Ainscough.

Wigan had to wait 13 minutes for the next with Farrell popping out the pass for Gary Connolly to dive just inside the flag.

Adrian Lam's brilliant break set up the third with O'Neill sliding in despite the tackle from Robbie Beckett.

I was very proud of the players.... the effort and commitment was great

Halifax coach
Steve Linnane

Halifax had an early try ruled out for a double movement by Andrew Brocklehurst but they stormed back with two tries in the last five minutes of the half.

Karle Hammond pounced on a deflected kick to touch down and then Lee Greenwood crossed after Colum Halpenny got the pass away a split second before being bundled into touch by Radlinski.

Scrum-half Lam skipped over for Wigan's fourth before O'Connor got his second of the season.

Julian O'Neill and Danny Tickle shared the goal kicking duties for Wigan and landed two apiece, with Jamie Bloem converting Greenwood's try.

Wigan: Radlinski, Carney, Johnson, Connolly, Ainscough, O'Neill, Lam, O'Connor, Newton, C. Smith, Furner, Cassidy, Farrell. Replacements: O'Loughlin, Tickle, Howard, Wild.

Halifax: Flowers, Greenwood, Halpenny, Donlan, Beckett, Hammond, Clinch, Goldspink, Penkywicz, Birchall, Gannon, Brocklehurst, McMenemy. Replacements: Hobson, Thackray, Clayton, Bloem.

Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington).