Wakefield 0-26 Wigan

Wakefield (0) 0

Wigan (14) 26
Tries: Richards, S Tomkins, Charnley, J Tomkins, O’Loughlin Goals: Richards 3

Sam Tomkins was full of pace and invention at Belle Vue

A stern defensive display crowned a fine Super League victory by champions Wigan over Wakefield.

The Warriors went ahead on two minutes when Pat Richards crossed unchallenged before Sam Tomkins’ try and Richards’ conversion made it 10-0.

Josh Charnley’s try gave the visitors a comfortable 14-0 half-time lead.

Joel Tomkins burst through after the break for an individual try and Sean O’Loughlin added a late score after good work by Liam Farrell.

The visitors scored with alarming ease with two minutes on the clock when Richards took Sean O’Loughlin’s pass over the top and raced down the left touchline.

Wakefield survived a scare on 10 minutes when Joel Tomkins was hauled down just short of the line before he could offload to Josh Charnley.

The Wildcats made Wigan work for any inroads they could make and it was another 21 minutes before Wigan added to their score when Ryan Hoffman made a great break before feeding inside to Sam Tomkins. Richards added the conversion for a 10-point lead.

The Tomkins brothers combined for the third try when Sam Tomkins’ injected pace into the line and kicked ahead and gathered be feeding sibling Joel who was caught but hurled the ball to his right where he found Charnley.

Andy Coley was denied a try shortly after the start of the second half when he lost control of the ball when he appeared to have been held in the tackle.

Paul Johnson came close to scoring for the Wildcats but the hosts were met repeatedly by some rugged tackling by Wigan.

George Carmont powered his way over from 20 metres out but could not ground the ball and was hauled back over the line by desperate defending.

Wakefield drove Wigan up the field and threw everything at their opponents but the Warriors struck back through Joel Tomkins’ powerful run saw tacklers fall off him before Richards made it 20-0 to put the result beyond doubt.

Farrell stormed through the gap to feed O’Loughlin for the final try, which Richards converted for his third successful kick from five attempts.

Wakefield (from): Blaymire, Murphy, Korkidas, King, Henderson, Morrison, Lee, P Johnson, Dean, Howarth, Davey, Wildie, Hyde, G Johnson, Amor, McCarthy, Morton, Gledhill, Veivers.

Wigan (from): S Tomkins, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Deacon, Leuluai, McIlorum, Coley, Hansen, J Tomkins, O’Loughlin, Prescott, Lima, Hoffman, Finch, Mossop, Farrell, Tuson, Charnley.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).