Swinton 12-42 Wigan: Warriors see off spirited Lions
Last Updated: 14/05/17 7:12pm
Wigan ran in eight tries as they overpowered Championship side Swinton to book a Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarter-final date with Warrington.
The Warriors led 18-0 at half-time thanks to tries from Joel Tomkins, Liam Farrell, Joe Burgess and Liam Marshall, but the Lions were far from embarrassed in the opening 40 and could have been in this game had Mike Butt been awarded two tries in the corner.
The hosts deservedly got on the scoresheet just after the break through Grant Gore, but that failed to slow down the visitors as Burgess grabbed his second and Tom Davies, Josh Ganson and Nick Gregson all went over.
Wigan had expected to see the return of George Williams in the halves following a knee injury, but, having been named on the teamsheet, he was withdrawn minutes before kick-off due to illness, with Tomkins starting at stand-off. Back-rower Callum Field was handed his debut from the bench.
Free-flowing rugby from Swinton caught Wigan off-guard early on, with Chris Atkin creating space down the left, but his ball to Ben White was put down and they were soon made to pay.
A poor pass was intercepted by Tomkins, who started at stand-off after George Williams withdrew from the starting line-up due to illness minutes before kick-off, and the Wigan skipper raced away to score. Marshall failed to convert.
Former Wigan full-back Jack Murphy thought he had got his side level when he was put through a massive gap and looked to score under the posts, but referee Chris Kendall ruled it out for obstruction.
The Warriors extended their lead in the 20th minute, albeit with a touch of controversy. Farrell pressured Gore in the tackle, the ball went free and Farrell picked it up and raced clear to score. Marshall converted for a 10-0 advantage.
Wigan had found their rhythm, and it looked like they would start to run away with this one as Burgess went over in the corner to make it 14-0.
A short kick-off saw Swinton regain possession, with Murphy launching an attack, and they thought they had got their first points when Butt appeared to go over in the corner, but Kendall ruled the final ball had travelled forward.
Swinton were having no luck as Butt again went close but he was bundled into touch, while Wigan were in no mood to let up as Marshall acrobatically grounded the ball following a sublime pass from Ganson. Marshall could not convert, but Wigan took a healthy 18-0 lead into the break.
The hosts needed a fast start in the second half and they got that as Gore stormed onto a short ball to score under the posts. Atkin converted.
Wigan did not allow Swinton get back into the game despite their early score, though, and Burgess was on hand to grab his second from Farrell's grubber-kick. The home fans were incensed as they thought Gregson had knocked on in the build-up, but it looked like the ball had travelled back. Marshall added the extras.
Burgess and Talima Tautai both went close to extending Wigan's lead before Davies was on hand to pick up a loose ball after Butt had spilled it on contact to touch down in the corner. Marshall calmly slotted over from the touchline to put the Warriors out of sight.
Swinton's heart and desire could not be questioned as, at 30-6 down, they were still tracking back to prevent Farrell getting his second following a break from Burgess.
Tempers started to fray, with Willie Isa and Butt sent to the sin-bin for fighting after the former was penalised for a high tackle on Murphy.
Davies launched a Wigan attack from his line only to be thwarted by a great cover tackle from Murphy, before Ganson went over from close range as the Championship side started to tire. Marshall's conversion made it 36-6.
Gregson capped off a fine performance with a try at the side of the posts, before Swinton managed to have the final say as Butt was on hand to touch down under the posts following a well-worked kick move from a scrum. Atkin added the extras to make it slightly more respectable.
