Tetley's Challenge Cup: Wigan Warriors through to the final after thrashing London Broncos
Wigan Warriors booked their place in the Tetley's Challenge Cup final following a 70-0 success over the London Broncos.
By James Pearson
Last Updated: 28/07/13 6:58am
Shaun Wane's men outscored the capital club by 12 tries to none while Pat Richards broke Franco Botica's record for number of points in a semi-final with a personal haul of 30.
London looked solid early on, but Wigan broke the deadlock on 10 minutes when centre Darrell Goulding burst clear from the play the ball to touch down under the posts.
The Warriors missed the chance to turn their advantage into an eight-point lead six minutes later when Australian winger Richards sliced a penalty wide after Antonio Kaufusi was penalised for interference.
However, Wigan did score again when Lee Mossop crossed the whitewash following a free-flowing move involving Sean O'Loughlin and Blake Green after London were forced into a drop out when Jamie Soward was trapped in his own in-goal area.
Another penalty
The Warriors wasted little time scoring their third when Sam Tomkins dived over from close range. Yet another penalty gifted Wigan the field position and from 10 metres out the full-back danced past a couple of would-be tacklers before scoring.
The tries kept on coming and former Hull KR playmaker Green capitalised on weak London defending from Matty Smith's grubber kick to score the easiest of tries under the posts.
West Tigers-bound Richards made it five tries for last season's League Leaders' Shield winners with another simple score after Wane's men spread it out wide. Richards made it five from six for a 30-point lead.
Wigan also scored the final try of the opening 40 minutes. This time O'Loughlin made the break and his long pass out wide to Josh Charnley sent the winger in for his first try of the game.
The Warriors picked up in the second half where they left off. Shortly after London were penalised for a high shot on Sam Tomkins, Wigan scored again when Scott Taylor crashed over from close range.
Next in line
Former Salford City Reds half-back Smith was next to get his name on the scoreboard. He stepped inside Matt Cook before darting over. Richards' conversion made it 46-0.
Wigan reached the fifty-point mark courtesy of Richards' second try of the game. A brilliant flicked pass from O'Loughlin allowed the winger to ghost over untouched.
Liam Farrell got in on the act for the Warriors' 10th try of the evening. Sam Tomkins created space for Richards and his inside pass to Farrell ensured the scoring continued.
Ex-Sale Sharks man Iain Thornley ensured the procession showed no signs of abating before Charnley scored his second of the contest after taking Goulding's lovely inside flick to conclude the scoring.