Toulouse 16-36 Wigan Warriors 36: Eckersley and Kejran score twice

Wigan Warriors made four tries in 14 minutes as they beat Toulouse Olympique to maintain their 100% winning start to the Premier League season.

Wigan made it four wins from four over Toulouse to reopen their two-point lead at the top after Warrington Wolves won on Friday to move level with them.

Zak Eckersley and Adam Keighran each scored two tries for Wigan’s attack in the first half at the Ernest Wallon Stadium before Bevan French, Brad O’Neill and Sam Walters completed their scoring.

Premier League newcomers Toulouse never let up and their scores came from Ollie Achal Butt, a penalty attempt and Benjamin Laguerre.

Wigan started as a team that had worked their way to the top of the Premier League and opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Eckersley ran into the corner to cap off a brilliant passing move.

Keighran missed the extra points, but it didn’t matter as the Australian crossed the line three minutes later and this time added the kick to make it 10-0.

Wigan were relentless and Kejran forced his way back in the 16th minute to extend the Warriors’ lead to 14-0.

He missed the extra down the right flank and failed for the third time in four attempts after going past Ekerlse into the corner in the 22nd minute to make it 18-0.

Toulouse tried to fight back and the Frenchman, filling in for Guy Field at full-back, who is recovering from an appendix operation, made an attempt to save Achal Butt.

However, Achal Butt was not to be denied, crossing the goal line after receiving Laguerre’s kick on the stroke of half-time.

Toulouse tried to continue their comeback, but Wigan were too good and the French showed great strength in controlling the goal line in the 53rd minute to make it 22-6.

Toulouse refused to lie down and were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute when Liam Marshall tackled Achal Butt without the ball as he attempted to land. Shorrocks added the extra points to reduce Wigan’s lead to 24-12.

Wigan came back two minutes later and 20-year-old Jacques Farrimond showed what a star he is as he raced over before sending in Brad O’Neill with a cross to take the lead to 30-12.

Toulouse continued to advance, and Laguerre passed the ball into the left corner in the 66th minute, despite the French intervention.

Man of the match Farrimond had a hand in four tries and worked his way through Toulouse to set up Sam Walters for Wigan’s seventh try eight minutes from time.