Wakefield (20) 26
Tries: Blanch 2, Brough 2 Goals: Brough 5
Wigan (22) 40
Tries: Phelps 2, Ainscough 4, Gleeson Goals: Richards 6

Teenage winger Shaun Ainscough touched down four times as Wigan completed a seven-try win over high-flying Wakefield at Belle Vue.

Ainscough, who only featured after the late withdrawal of George Carmont, scored a first-half hat-trick to edge his side 22-20 up at the break.

A fine display from Danny Brough kept Wakefield in the contest, and they held lead early in the second half.

But Wigan went clear late on with tries from Cameron Phelps and Martin Gleeson.

Ainscough's performance marks a remarkable turnaround for the 19-year-old, who had been omitted from coach Brian Noble's initial 19-man squad.

He took his try tally to 16 from just 10 senior appearances this season, and he now tops Super League's tryscoring charts.

The impressive Brough created the game's first try for winger Damien Blanch with a trademark kick to the corner, but the Warriors quickly hit back to establish a 16-6 lead after 18 minutes.

606: DEBATE Our academy product Shaun Ainscough played outstandingly Warriors17

Phelps scored Wigan's first try after getting on the end of Tim Smith's excellent pass to cross for a try and some superb handling from the centre saw him put Ainscough over twice in quick succession.

Brough kicked a penalty before scoring his first try after winger Scott Grix pounced on a handling error by Wigan's Pat Richards.

Wigan extended their lead when Sam Tomkins and Sean O'Loughlin combined to give Ainscough the chance to complete his hat-trick.

Brough intercepted Gleeson's pass to storm over from 45m just before the break and the Wildcats went ahead early in the second half when Blanch outjumped Ainscough to collect Brough's kick and score.

Phelps regained Wigan's lead after collecting Smith's grubber kick and Gleeson cruised in to make sure of the win.

Wigan coach Brian Noble on Ainscough:
"There is no doubt he is a work in progress.

"He has got superb prowess. He is strong, quick and knows how to finish but there are other parts of his game he needs to improve.

"We gifted them three tries in the first half to keep them in the game. I knew that, if we could get to the other end of the field, we could score some points and I thought our execution was really good."

Wakefield coach John Kear:
"We didn't play well at all. I thought Wigan came here and did a job on us.

"The half-time score probably flattered us because we scored two tries off their errors.

"It was a weird game. There just didn't look to be any structure to it."

Wakefield: Blaymire, Blanch, Gleeson, Atkins, Grix, Martin, Brough, Wilkes, Drew, Snitch, Pitts, Ferguson, Demetriou. Replacements: Obst, Henderson, Sculthorpe, Moore.

Wigan: Richards, Roberts, Gleeson, Phelps, Ainscough, Smith, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hock, Bailey, O'Loughlin. Replacements: Paleaaesina, J. Tomkins, Prescott, S. Tomkins.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield)

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