Wigan cruise past Whitehaven in Challenge Cup
Brian Noble's team brushed Whitehaven aside easily
Monday, 12, May 2008 10:02
Wigan Warriors made light work of their Challenge Cup match against Whitehaven to set up a quarter-final with Leeds Rhinos.
The Warriors won 106-8 against the Division One side, running in a total of 18 tries compared to Whitehaven's two.
Half-back Sam Tomkins scored five tries on his debut for the Warriors while regular Trent Barrett claimed a hat-trick.
Pat Richards slotted 17 goals from 18 attempts and also scored a try to notch a personal points haul of 38.
Iafeta Paleaaesina scored the opening try with two minutes gone before Tomkins stole the show with three tries in ten minutes to put the home side out of reach.
Barrett then got his first try before setting up Sean O'Loughlin to cross the whitewash. Wigan added another to lead 42-0 with 20 minutes gone before Ade Adebisi put Whitehaven on the scoresheet.
Harrison Hansen responded with a try for Wigan but Rob Jackson touched down for the visitors as the half-time hooter sounded.
Wigan were unrelenting in the second half and added to their try tally further. Tomkins and Barrett scored two more tries each and Mark Calderwood also scored a second-half brace.
Phil Bailey scored the try which allowed Richards to bring up the century with a conversion before Paleaaesina, who had scored the first try of the night, brought some symmetry to proceedings by scoring the final try of the game.