Warriors surge six clear

Wigan Warriors increased their lead at the top of the engage Super League table to six points with an emphatic 60-10 win over 12-man Salford on Friday night.

Michael Maguire's men ran in 10 tires - all successfully converted by Pat Richards - as their quest for a first league title since 2000 gathers pace.

The Reds were forced to play with a numerical disadvantage for 59 minutes after Ryan Boyle was sent off for a high tackle on Stuart Fielden.

But the league leaders were already on course for a third straight win having charged into an 18-0 lead with three tries in the opening quarter.

Fine tackle

Two more followed as Wigan raced into a 30-0 half-time lead and from there on in victory was a formality, although Salford salvaged some pride with two second-half efforts.

A Darrell Goulding hat-trick took his tally to 22 in 17 games this year while Sam Tomkins, playing a third straight game in his new role at full-back, claimed two tries.

Salford, unchanged from last week's win over Harlequins, threatened the game's first break down the left, only for Thomas Leuluai to make a fine tackle to force Broughton into touch.

Wigan then carved Salford open from the scrum base, with Mark Riddell's break backed up by Sam Tomkins, and the England international raced clear to open the scoring with a fifth-minute try.

The Warriors kept the pressure on with Martin Gleeson's chip kick down the wing forcing Karl Fitzpatrick to run it into touch.

Riddell, Leuluai and Tomkins then combined to sweep the ball wide and Goulding just managed to force the ball down for the second try.

The hosts remained on top and it was only a matter of time before they stretched their lead from Paul Deacon's chip-kick to the right, where Gleeson jumped above Mark Henry to take the catch and touch down.

Salford were then left facing an uphill battle as, straight after the restart, Boyle caught Fielden and referee Ben Thaler wasted little time before brandishing his red card.

Little was going Salford's way and even when they had a glimmer of hope, Broughton was adjudged to have stepped into touch after being released by Matty Smith's pass wide.

A Salford penalty in the 35th minute then gave Wigan the ground for Joel Tomkins to crash over from close range.

And there was still time for another Wigan try before the break as George Carmont rounded off a flowing move from Sam Tomkins' pass.

Ambitious

Tomkins claimed his second try three minutes into the second half after bursting onto a neat inside ball by Liam Farrell.

Salford had something to cheer as Ste Tyrer tapped a Smith grubber inside for Daniel Holdsworth to touch down.

Wigan hit back as Deacon's long pass found fit-again Sean O'Loughlin in space to stroll over in the 50th minute.

Goulding then dived over in the corner to round off a sweeping move and Harrison Hansen slipped Sam Tomkins through before charging into position to take a return pass and score next to the posts.

Broughton cut out an ambitious pass by Amos Roberts to score a 90-metre interception try, despite Sam Tomkins' desperate attempt to cut him off.

Roberts made amends, though, by slipping in Goulding for the game's final try and Richards converted to make it 10 goals from 10 attempts.