WARRINGTON Wolves lost their grip on the Challenge Cup as they were out muscled and out paced by a rampant Wigan Warriors 24-44 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Challenge Cup quarter-final looked over as a contest as Wigan raced into a 0-22 lead in nearly as many minutes as the Wolves looked clueless with Skipper Adrian Morley and Loose Forward Ben Harrison joined in the stands by talisman Lee Briers, who was withdrawn from the squad with a recurrence of his calf injury.
But to their credit the never say die Wolves roared back to 16-22 at the break and when David Solomona powered over at the start of the second half it looked like the come back of all come backs was on the cards.
But two crucial moments proved to be the turning points as first Joel Monaghan intercepted on his own line but didn’t have the legs to go the length of the field and then the influential Solomona was helped off with a leg injury.
Warrington then gave away a couple of needless penalties and the match swung back Wigan’s way as Pat Richards went over to make it 20-28.
A super offload by Ben Westwood on 58 minutes allowed Matt King to squeeze in at the corner for his second try but Hodgson couldn’t add the extras from wide out.
Wigan then scored three tries without reply as Warrington ran out of steam.
Warrington had looked on top in the opening exchanges but failed to convert pressure into points, whereas Wigan scored with their first real attack when Harrison Hansen was sent through a gap by Thomas Leuluai, with Richards slotting over the extras after 10 minutes.
A minute later Wigan doubled their advantage as Sam Tomkins outpaced the Wolves floundering defence with Richards again on target. Andy Coley was the next to ghost through some woeful Wolves tackling on 17 minutes as Richards made it 0-18 and when Richards touched down in the corner on 24 minutes it looked over as a contest at 0-22.
But Warrington suddenly clicked into gear as King pulled one back out wide on 28 minutes although Hodgson couldn’t add the extras.
King then broke clear on 32 minutes following a good pass from Solomona and Richie Myler supported well to go over with Hodgson adding the extras to make it 10-22.
Five minutes later the Wolves continued their amazing fightback as Michael Monaghan broke clear to send the supporting Myler over for his second as Hodgson again slotted over the extras to make it 16-22 at the break.
When Solomona crashed over early in the second half to narrow the gap to just two points the fairytale fight back
suddenly seemed a reality but it wasn’t to be as the powerful forward hobbled from the field and Wigan’s superior pace and power came back to the for and Josh Charnley twice and Sean O’Loughlin completed the scoring for the visitors.
Jon Clarke looks to open up the Wigan defence.
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Wolves : Hodsgon, J Monaghan, Blythe, Atkins, King, Bridge, Myler, Wood, M Monaghan, Carvell, Anderson, Westwood, Grix.
Subs Higham, Clarke, Cooper, Solomona
Wigan: S Tomkins, Josh Carnley, J Tomkins, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Deacon, Coley, Leuluai, Lima
Hansen, Hoffman, O’Loughlin.
Subs Mcllorum, Prescott, Mossop, Hock.
