Super League rugby: Victory of the Wigans Warriors 29 to 28 at the Ernest-Wallon stadium

Despite a defeat (28-29), on a drop from the English scored at the last minute of play, the Toulouse were daring, precise and enterprising against an undefeated team.

On the other side of the Channel, some had a hasty judgment on Olympic Toulouse, designated as the main candidate for relegation. The club with 19 FA Cups, the one that trained Shaun Edwards and Jason Robinson, curled the correctional on Saturday evening at the Ernest-Wallon stadium.

Despite a late entry into the game, which allowed the Warriors to score two tries in the first ten minutes of the match, Sylvain HOULES’ men offered a performance worthy of a Super League level.

Unfortunately for the Olympians, the match started in the worst possible way as it was Jai Field, the in-form man on the Wigan side, who opened the scoring. Hardaker converts and it’s already 0-6. Toulouse are struggling to get into their game and Hardaker will take advantage of it. The Englishman doubles the bet and brings the score to 0-10. Toulouse will stop the bleeding and solve its defensive problems.

In the 34th, Tony Gigot will still enchant Ernest-Wallon. This time, it is he who concludes the action and with the transformation, Toulouse takes the lead 16-10. Wigan wants to react but struggles to convert his offensives. And Toulouse, more opportunistic than ever, takes advantage of it.

During the next 30 minutes of the first period, they left nothing to the Warriors and quickly regained control of this meeting by returning to the locker room with a score of 18-10.

After the break, Wigan returned with better intentions but Toulouse resisted. The Warriors will nevertheless find the fault in the 50th by Cade Cust (18-16). But tonight, Toulouse has resources and after an action initiated by Pélissier, Matty Russell will score in the corner. It is not transformed and Toulouse leads 22-16.

And Toulouse’s offensive festival continues. After a 40/20 from Leg, Armitage will score twice and allow the TO to now lead 28-16 with the transformation. Wigan reacts somehow to the hour of play through Liam Marshall. It’s transformed and the Warriors are only down 28-22. The end of the match is under tension on both sides.

Wigan push to come back in the last 20 minutes and will manage to equalize. The Australian Jai Field who scored his second try of the evening. Hardaker converts and the two teams are back to back 28-28. The end of the match is tense and Wigan’s experience will pay off. Harry Smith slams the victory drop and extinguishes Toulouse’s hopes.

The second half escalated with two teams going blow for blow on the pitch. The TO showed a lack of lucidity at the end of the game, allowing the Warriors to equalize and seize their chance on a drop at the siren.

Toulouse will have led the whole match but lost at the last minute, Wigan won 29 to 28.

The next Toulouse Olympique home game is set for Saturday March 19, 6 p.m., at the Ernest-Wallon stadium. Ahead, the Olympians will face Wakefield Trinity on Friday, March 11, at Be Well Support Stadium, at 7:30 p.m. (local time).

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Gabriel MIHAI

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