Wolves hunt down Warriors

Michael Monaghan: Scored two tries

Warrington are back on top of the Super League table and on course for the League Leaders' Shield after a comprehensive demolition of Wigan.

The Wolves killed the game off by racing into a 24-0 lead after 23 minutes and now look set to deny Challenge Cup winners Wigan a shot at the treble.

Hooker Michael Monaghan scored two of the hosts' six tries as Warrington condemned the defending champions to their first defeat for three months and gained a measure of revenge for their Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat on this ground.

The Wolves will now claim their first top-of the-table finish since 1973 and take the Shield from Wigan if they beat Hull next Friday.

Defeat at the KC Stadium would reopen the door for Wigan, who would expect to see off Crusaders at the DW Stadium.

The Wolves were inspired by the return of captain Adrian Morley, who had been out for 10 weeks with double vision but typically took the first drive of the match, and with fellow front rower Garreth Carvell helped lay a superb platform for the Wolves' early dominance.

Winger Matt King opening the scoring after 10 minutes, latching onto Lee Briers' high kick to register a trademark try.

Three minutes later Briers profited from a kind ricochet to score a second try, the ball striking Thomas Leuluai from his kick and bouncing back into his arms, and four minutes after that Richie Myler broke clear to get the outstanding Monaghan racing over for a third try.

Wobbling

After their Wembley triumph last week Wigan were wobbling and when second rower Harrison Hansen dropped Brett Finch's pass on his own 20-metre line, Monaghan swooped to score his second try and, with Chris Bridge converting all four, Warrington were coasting at 24-0.

The Warriors threatened a fightback through half-back Paul Deacon, who beat three defenders on a jinking run to mark the 400th appearance of his career with a try, with Pat Richards adding the goal, but Michael Monaghan got Warrington's score rolling again with a drop goal four minutes before the break.

The second half was certainly more competitive and there was a 36-minute wait by Warrington fans among the 13,024 crowd for their next try.

Myler touched down after collecting Briers' kick only to be ruled to offside but there was no stopping replacement hooker Jon Clarke when he forced his way over from close range on the hour.

As Wigan forced their hand to try to get back into the game, Warrington winger Joel Monaghan picked off a pass by Brett Finch to sprint 90 metres for a try.

Wigan gained some consolation when skipper Sean O'Loughlin scored a second try eight minutes from the end and Richards kicked a second goal, but the home side had the final say when Bridge kicked a last-minute penalty, his seventh goal from as many attempts.

The penalty came when Gareth Hock launched into Ben Harrison after appearing to make contact with the Warrington player's eyes during the tackle, an incident that was put on report.