Warriors on the march
Wigan battled back from an early deficit to see off Sheffield Eagles and advance into the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.
Last Updated: 17/04/10 6:15pm
Wigan battled back from an early deficit to see off Sheffield Eagles and advance into the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.
Stand-off Sam Tomkins grabbed a second-half hat-trick for the Super League leaders in front of 3,950 fans at Bramall Lane.
Wigan found themselves 10-4 down after 11 minutes following touchdowns by Menzie Yere and Richie Barnett, in response to Aussie winger Pat Richards' first-minute try.
But Martin Gleeson, George Carmont, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Sean O'Loughlin all crossed for the Warriors before half-time to give them a 26-10 cushion.
Both sides recorded four tries each in the second half, including three from Tomkins, while Eagles winger Barnett also finished with a hat-trick after crossing for two long-range efforts. Richards kicked seven goals, with Mitchell Stringer replying with six.
Sheffield famously beat Wigan 17-8 in the Challenge Cup final in 1998 and Wigan have not returned to Wembley since that loss, but this victory keeps their Challenge Cup dreams very much alive.
O'Loughlin wasted no time in making his mark on the game, launching a towering, cross-field kick for Richards to collect and touch down - his 16th try of the year - in the first minute, to make it 4-0.
Well-crafted
But Sheffield responded with two well-crafted tries.
First, Yere brushed off Joel Tomkins to score, and then minutes later he sent Barnett over in the corner to make it 10-4.
Gleeson levelled in the 17th minute, and then on the half-hour mark Carmont finished off a flowing backline move to make it 14-10 to the visitors.
Tries by Paleaaesina and O'Loughlin tightened the Warriors' grip on the match before the break.
And while Sheffield tried to get back into the game early in the second half, a quickfire double from England stand-off Sam Tomkins - in the 48th and 50th minute - and a try from Andy Coley effectively ended the game as a contest.
Yet Sheffield displayed their battling qualities with tries by Barnett and Alex Rowe sandwiching Sam Tomkins' third touchdown.
Pacey winger Barnett completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute and a Brendon Lindsay try ensured the home side ended the game on a positive note.
