Round 6
Wigan Warriors 48 d. Hull FC 24

2010 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Wigan bounce back in style
Sun March 14, 2010
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Wigan Warriors bounced back in style from their first defeat of the season with an eight-try rout of Hull FC to consolidate their lead in Engage Super League XV.

Any fear of a hangover from their second-half collapse at Bradford Bulls seven days earlier was removed by the interval, with all the Warriors three-quarters scoring tries in a clinical display.

Hull, who had the chance themselves to go top of the table, were on the back foot from the start as Pat Richards, Darrell Goulding, Martin Gleeson and Amos Roberts struck decisively to establish a commanding 18-point lead.

By the end, all the Wigan backs had got among the tries and Richards, Engage Super League's leading scorer, finished with another 20-point haul.

Warriors coach Michael Maguire responded to last week's loss by axing Paul Deacon and Iafeta Paleaaesina while restoring Cameron Phelps to the full-back berth following his recovery from injury.

New Hull skipper Sean Long was back to face his home-town club and, roundly booed with every touch of the ball, all he had to show for his efforts was a cut head until he grabbed a consolation try five minutes from the end.

The first points came courtesy of the boot of Richards, who kicked a penalty on 11 minutes and followed it up with the game's first try four minutes later.

Wigan pulled the Hull defence to the right before swinging play to the left and skipper Sean O'Loughlin's pass gave Richards an unopposed run in for his ninth try of the season.

The Warriors were full of confidence and extended their lead midway through the half when Goulding, switched to centre in place of the injured George Carmont, produced a brilliant solo effort, wrong-footing the defence with a 180-degree turn and fending off two tacklers to touch down.

Hull were in danger of being played out of the game but they struck back with a well-worked try from centre Richard Whiting, who finished off another break from the dangerous Richard Horne and would have scored a second but for dropping a return pass from winger Craig Hall.

However, Wigan finished the half in total control, with Gleeson taking Joel Tomkins' pass and side-stepping his way over for the third try.

Phelps was denied by a marginal forward pass but Roberts made no mistake when the ball bounced kindly following O'Loughlin's chip over the Hull defence and Richards kicked his fourth goal.

It took Wigan just six minutes into the second half to extend their lead and the try illustrated the ease with which they managed to prise open the Hull defence.

The Warriors ran a penalty close to the line and used swift hands to work the ball out wide to create a big overlap for Sam Tomkins to send in Goulding for his second try.

Sam Tomkins then took centre stage, first demonstrating his electrifying footwork to touch down and then following his own grubber kick to claim a second and clinch the man of the match award.

Hull winger Craig Hall's 68th-minute try briefly stemmed the tide but Phelps completed the rout when he finished off another glorious move sparked by Tomkins and Richards kicked his eighth goal.

Hull were well beaten but at least produced a spirited finish that brought them tries through Long and Horne, with ex-Wigan forward Danny Tickle kicking his fourth goal.

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