PEET HAILS PLUCKY FEAT OF HIS PLAYERS

WIGAN boss Matt Peet saluted his champions for coming out on top of a “strange” game after holding off Warrington's late fightback.

- ■ by DAVE CRAVEN

Livewire Aussie full-back Jai Field scored one try, had one disallowed and created two more to get Warriors in control.

Wolves struggled to contain the 27-year-old, who got Peet's side up and running with a 10th-minute effort and quickly furnished Bevan French with another.

Sam Burgess' team were missing their entire England midfield axis of stand-off George Williams, scrum-half Marc Sneyd and hooker Danny Walker so it was always going to be difficult.

But in front of a 32,862 crowd, the biggest Sunday attendance in Magic Weekend's 18-year history, they almost pulled off a surprise win.

Joe Philbin and Jake Thewlis scored late back-to-back tries but Stefan Ratchford was wide with his touchline conversion attempt of the latter.