Crusaders (12) 22
Tries: Van Dijk, Lupton 2, Dalle Cort Goals: Lennon 3

Wigan (6) 16
Tries: Hansen, Phelps, Roberts Goals: Richards 2

Crusader Mark Dalle Cort celebrates his try with Luke Dyer

Celtic Crusaders produced a stunning display to beat Wigan Warriors at the Brewery Field and earn only their second Super League win.

Tries from Jace Van Dijk and Peter Lupton helped John Dixon's side to a 12-6 half time lead, with Harrison Hansen going over for Wigan.

Mark Dalle Cort's unconverted try made it 16-6 but Wigan were level through Cameron Phelps and Amos Roberts.

Lupton pounced on Iafeta Paleaaesina's mistake to secure a late win.

After an indifferent start to the campaign, Wigan had found some form and went into the game at the Brewery Field having won four of their last six Super League games.

They were facing an injury-ravaged Crusaders side who had yet to secure a home win.

Brian Noble's men started brightly enough but squandered chances and the Crusaders had wing Luke Dyer to thank for a tremendous try-saving tackle to deny Shaun Ainscough.

606: DEBATE Credit where credit is due, winning against Wigan even though they are not the team of old is still a great result DoubleBlackDiamond

Wigan were then punished Australian wing Mark Lennon made a decisive break down the left, found Lupton who put scrum-half Van Dijk on a 20-yard run under the posts for Lennon to convert.

Wigan hit back when second row Hansen drove over as the visitors put the pressure on the home team inside their 25 with Pat Richards converting.

But the Crusaders went in at the break 12-6 ahead after Van Dijk's huge cross-field kick sent Lupton over near the posts for Lennon to convert.

It got better for the home side after the break when centre Dalle Cort went over for a third try just before the hour.

Lennon's missed conversion could have proved costly as Wigan fought back to 16-16.

First Phelps went over near the touchline on the hour with Richards converting and then with 10 minutes to go, Martin Gleeson took advantage of Lincoln Withers' handling error to set up Roberts for an unconverted try.

But Paleaaesina's knock-on in the closing stages allowed Crusaders to get the win when Lutpon drove over in the corner and Lennon ensured maximum points.

Wigan coach Brian Noble:
"Two points were thrown away by us because of our attitude.

"That is taking nothing away from Celtic who were manful, dogged, kept in the game and found some decent kicks.

"But we gifted the Crusaders the two points with the amount of errors and ball control we made. It was embarrassing at times."

Celtic Crusaders: Quinn, Dyer, Lennon, Dalle Cort, Blackwood, Mapp, Van Dijk, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, J James, Chan, Beasley.
Replacements: Lupton for Mapp (10), Peek for O'Hara (15), Budworth for Withers (27), Tangata-Toa for J James (20).

Wigan: Richards, Roberts, Gleeson, Phelps, Ainscough, Smith, Leuluai, Coley, Riddell, Prescott, Bailey, Hansen, J Tomkins, Paleaaesina.
Replacements: Fielden for Coley (17), Paleaaesina for Prescott (27), McIlorum for J Tomkins (33), Flanagan for Paleaaesina (49).

Att: 5,253

Ref: S Ganson (St Helens).

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