The Wigan Warriors have been successful in their attempt to claim the 2017 Dacia World Club Challenge match over the Cronulla Sharks.
Played in front of a raucous crowd of 21,011 fans at DW Bell Stadium, the match was played with plenty of energy and aggression.
The Sharks would score a few early defensive blows, forcing an error in the first set of six and pressuring Wigan’s line however were not able to convert that into points.
Conversely, it would be Wigan who would trouble the scorers first, after four minutes Joe Burgess crossing over in the left corner for the home side.
Under the experience of James Maloney and Luke Lewis, the Sharks continued to pressure the Warriors line as Maloney went to the air for Lewis who grounded the ball, only for winger Jesse Ramien to be called offside in the play.
After both sides traded blows in midfield, it would again be the Warriors who would add to their tally as the former Rabbitohs winger crossed for his second of the afternoon.
Not to be outdone, the Sharks worked their way up field and found some space on the left edge.
The ball went to the air for Kurt Capewell however the young talent from Charleville was deemed to have part of the ball in touch during the grounding.
That is what the score would remain at the break.
It did not take long before the vocal Wigan supporters got their team off to the start that they wanted, with Oliver Keldart crossing over to extend the home side’s lead.
Both sides continued to impose themselves physically on each other, with both sets of players wearing some fantastic hits.
It would one od of the Sharks debutants who would get his side back into the contest, with Ramienc crossing the line on debut.
However despite a late comeback, the Sharks were unable to defeat the Warriors, going down eventually 22-6 on a chilly afternoon in Wigan.
