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Page last updated at 14:52 GMT, Monday, 25 April 2011 15:52 UK

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 0-26 Wigan Warriors

Wakefield (0) 0

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


Sam Tomkins
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 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, kicked ahead and gathered before 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 by repeatedly 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.

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


Wakefield coach John Kear:
"I thought Wigan's defence was magnificent and Sam Tomkins was sensational. It was as if he had a force field around him.

"But I was really pleased from my team's point of view. It was tough to back up and we were probably playing the most mentally tough team in the competition.

"I thought we asked some questions and half opened them up but I thought Wigan were superb."

Wigan coach Michael Maguire told BBC Radio Manchester:
"It was a tough game for the boys to back up after Friday, but it was great to see us so strong in defence.

"Unfortunately, we turned the ball over a lot which created a lot of defence that we probably didn't need to be doing.

"All the players wanted to play and even though it was a tough game, they came out here and performed and got the points."


Wakefield: Blaymire; Morton, Dean, Murphy, G Johnson; Hyde, Lee; Amor, Wildie, King, Morrison, Henderson, Howarth.

Replacements: Korkidas, Davey, P Johnson, McCarthy.

Wigan: S Tomkins; Charnley, J Tomkins, Carmont, Richards; Finch, Leuluai; Mossop, McIlorum, Coley, Hansen, Hoffman, O'Loughlin.

Replacements: Lima, Prescott, Deacon, Farrell.

Attendance: 8,163.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).



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see also
Castleford 24-28 Wakefield
22 Apr 11 |  Rugby League
Wigan 28-24 St Helens
22 Apr 11 |  Rugby League
Wakefield 32-6 Wigan
01 Jul 07 |  Rugby League


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