 Pat Richards scored two of Wigan's seven tries |
Wigan: (22) 38
Tries: Ashton, Richards 2, Dobson 3, Godwin
Goals: Dobson 5
Bradford: (0) 16
Tries: Withers, Lynch, Pryce
Goals: Deacon 2
Coach Brian Noble enjoyed a triumphant reunion with his old club Bradford as Wigan thrashed the champions to move away from the Super League drop zone.
Chris Ashton, Pat Richards and Michael Dobson all scored tries in a stunning 10-minute spell in the opening quarter.
Richards intercepted a pass to run 90m for his second as half-time beckoned.
Dobson's second made it 28-0 before Michael Withers scored the first of three Bradford tries, but Wayne Godwin and Dobson's hat-trick try sealed it.
Andy Lynch and Karl Pryce both crossed in the final quarter for the Bulls, but Wigan stepped up their efforts to complete their most impressive win of the season.
Victory lifted them four points clear of Wakefield, and within four points of the play-off positions with two matches left.
Wigan coach Brian Noble:
"The players were terrific. They applied themselves really well, and this is a measure of how far they have come on. "They will be disappointed with some parts of the second half but full credit to Bradford; we got a bit of a start but they really came back at us.
"I think Bradford still have a chance of the Grand Final. I'm glad today's over really. I've got a lot of friends and family who have season tickets at Bradford.
Bradford coach Steve McNamara:
"It was very tough. They hit us with that flurry in the first half where every half break they had turned into a full break and they turned that into a try. "We always knew that was the danger but we didn't do enough to counter-act it, and found ourselves a long way behind on the scoreboard."
(on Terry Newton, forced off with a dead leg in the first half):
"It was Terry's homecoming, against his old club, and unfortunately
he's come off second best in the very first tackle.
"He's a little bit frustrated but he'll live to fight another day."
Wigan: Ashton, Calderwood, McAvoy, Vaealiki, Richards, Orr, Dobson, Paleaaesina, Higham, Fielden, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Logan, Godwin, Hansen, Tickle.
Bradford: Withers, Vainikolo, Hape, B. Harris, Bai, I. Harris, Deacon, Vagana, Newton, Lynch, McKenna, Ferres, Langley.
Replacements: Henderson, Meyers, Burgess, Pryce.
Referee: A Klein (London)
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