#SocialMediaReacts - Wigan vs Warrington

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The opening game of Super League between Wigan and Warrington had it all. A quiet, tepid start to the season this was not!

And, as always, the rugby league community on Twitter had its forthright say on the proceedings. Here is the first blog which looks at the social media reaction to the opener!

13 Minutes - Wigan 0-8 Warrington - Murdoch-Masila try
The game's first try came from Ben Murdoch-Masila as he trampled over George Burgess to crash in under the posts...
...and the fans loved it!


It wasn't just Big Ben either who took advantage!
Some looked to offer mitigation:
But Kris Voakes probably had the most sensible advice!

23 Minutes - Wigan 12-8 Warrington - Penalty Try / Hill Red Card
Before the match, Sky Sports' Phil Clarke commented that Chris Hill was one the world's best players...these comments didn't come at the best time, as many pointed out!

Although in Clarke's defence, he has made the same point for years...and received the same criticism for it!
And of course, Chris Hill came in for some rightful criticism for the reckless tackle.

Some however were delighted with the dismissal:

Half Time - Wigan 12-10 Warrington
Half time gave an opportunity to pause for breath and to reflect on an incident-packed 40 minutes
57 Minutes - Wigan 12-10 Warrington - Joe Burgess charge down
The second half got off to a slower start but there was a contentious moment in the 57th minute when Joe Burgess was ruled to have charged down a Warrington kick, when many thought it was a knock on:

However if you read the charge down law, as the kick was rising, Kendall got the call spot on. Who would be a ref?
58 Minutes - Wigan 12-10 Warrington - Matty Ashton try saver
Wigan then went straight up the other end and were denied by a brilliant tackle by the debutant Matty Ashton, who came in for some deserved praise


62 - 64 minutes - Wigan 16-10 Warrington - French no try, Cooper sin bin, Marshall match-winner 
It's fair to say that the game sprung back to life between the 57th and 65th minutes. None more so than in this period, Bevan French was denied a penalty try, Mike Cooper was sin-binned and Wigan took advantage of facing 11 men, with Liam Marshall scoring the winning try.


Meanwhile some couldn't resist a chuckle at the natural innuendo of a rugby league game!
Full Time - Wigan 16-10 Warrington
Wigan could never quite kill the game off, and Warrington hung on until the end but couldn't get the equaliser. As fans left the stadium and the television coverage ended, fans and pundits took the moment to reflect:




Meanwhile, we took the opportunity to remind our Twitter followers of Karl Fitzpatrick's pre-match comments!
Enjoy the rest of the weekend's action. It's good to be back!

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