Warriors coach pays tribute to Ashton

 Add your view

Controversial teenager Chris Ashton shook off the effects of a car crash to help Wigan climb into the Super League play-off positions thanks to an impressive 30-20 win over Hull at the KC Stadium.

The 19-year-old full-back was booed throughout by the Wigan fans following midweek revelations that he is switch codes at the end of the season, but went some way to appeasing them by scoring the Warriors' fifth try to clinch a third successive win.

Coach Brian Noble then revealed that the Northampton-bound England international had been involved in a serious road accident 24 hours earlier.

Ashton kept the full-back spot when Michael Withers failed to recover from a rib injury and Noble had nothing but praise for the way he dealt with the reception from his own supporters.

"As a young lad it's a lot to cope with and, when you couple that with what he had to go through last night, I'm particularly proud of him," said Noble.

"I'm disappointed that he's leaving rugby league and he knows that but the way he handled himself is a credit to him and his family."

Wigan's other heroes were stand-off Trent Barrett and winger Pat Richards, who both scored two tries while the goalkicking Richards finished with a personal haul of 18 points.

 

What's on today   What's on tomorrow

Receive our newsletter