Warriors tame Wolves

Wigan have gone top of the engage Super League after claiming a third successive win with a 22-20 victory in a thriller at Warrington.

Both sides came into the contest unbeaten, but Wigan had lost on their six previous visits to the Halliwell Jones Stadium and looked to be heading for a seventh after slipping 16-4 behind by half-time.

But inspired by the brilliance of Amos Roberts and Sam Tomkins, Wigan hit back to lead with 12 minutes left, then held on under some ferocious late pressure from the Wolves.

Roared on by a sell-out crowd at the Halliwell Jones, Warrington started fast and Wigan did well to survive three successive sets deep in their own half.

But it was the Warriors who broke the deadlock after nine minutes with their first attack, as Roberts evaded two tackles around halfway and sprinted all the way to the corner to score.

Wigan survived again when Adrian Morley knocked on in the shadow of their posts with four tackles in the bank, but they failed to capitalise.

Indeed when George Carmont broke clear they paid a high price for his spillage in midfield, as a quick play the ball gave Michael Monaghan the chance to send Richard Myler over for his fourth try of the season and Lee Briers converted to edge Wire ahead.

Wigan were giving away too many penalties for interfering at the ruck and after Carmont was pinged, the ball was shipped out wide, going through the hands in a superb move for Chris Riley to crash over in the corner.

Wigan had the chance to hit back after winning two successive penalties close to the Wolves line, but Roberts' grubber kick was poor.

Wigan looked to have survived to the half after giving away a silly penalty, when Briers' kick was knocked on in the act of scoring by Monaghan, but moments later Warrington were over for their third try.

Powered over

It came from another error as Prescott knocked on in his own half and two tackles later David Solomona powered over from close range, Briers adding the extras for a 16-4 half-time lead.

It got worse for the visitors as Lee Mossop fumbled the ball straight from the kick-off, but they survived as Solomona knocked on Briers' grubber kick.

Wigan had chances to threaten the Warrington line but continued to come up with mistakes to hand the initiative back to the Wolves.

Thomas Leuluai and Stuart Fielden were the next Wigan men to give away penalties in the ruck area, but with Monaghan and the injured Briers off the pitch, Warrington could not capitalise.

Wigan quickly took advantage as Roberts once again demonstrated his finishing skills with a fine try, but Richards again missed the conversion attempt as the lead remained eight points.

Roberts quickly turned provider, a brilliant jink and flick pass giving Darrell Goulding a try in the corner. And this time Richards - from out wide - slotted the conversion.

High shot

Wigan were level when a high shot from Morley gifted Richards the chance to kick from right in front and the winger duly slotted the penalty attempt.

Sam Tomkins produced the next moment of magic for Wigan as he poked the ball over the top of the advancing defenders on the fifth tackle, collected the ball, shipped it to Leuluai and Joel Tomkins was on hand to sprint in and score.

Wigan looked to have the points in the bag with a 22-16 lead and nine minutes on the clock, but a superb Monaghan 40-20 set up a Warrington attack only for Chris Bridge to pop the ball up on the first tackle.

Another penalty swung the game once more and a good handling move put Louis Anderson over, but Bridge missed the conversion attempt that would have levelled the scores.

Solomona had one final chance to win it for Warrington, but brilliant defence forced the big second rower to knock on in the act of touching down, Warrington celebrations proving premature as the video referee ruled in Wigan's favour.