PICTURES ADDED: Wolves collapse at Wigan
10:44pm Friday 16th May 2008
WOLVES conceded 32 points without reply as they threw away a half-time lead to lose 38-14 at Wigan on Friday night.
Wolves led 14-6 late in the first half but collapsed after the interval as Wigan ran in five second-half tries to relegate the visitors to sixth in the Super League table.
Paul Cullen welcomed back Martin Gleeson and Rob Parker for the clash at the JJB Stadium but opted to leave out Chris Riley.
Matt King switched to the left wing with Kevin Penny on the right flank, Vinnie Anderson at left centre and Simon Grix making his first start since February at loose forward.
Wigan scored the first try of the game when George Carmont scored from Thomas Leuluai's inside pass, with Pat Richards converting.
But Wolves responded when Matt King powered past Richards from close range after Vinnie Anderson's offload had put brother Louis in space.
Chris Hicks added the conversion to level the scores and Wolves then went ahead as Vinnie Anderson dived to touch down Michael Monaghan's astute grubber kick.
Andy Bracek collected Martin Gleeson's brilliant reverse pass to put the visitors 14-6 in front in the 38th minute before Vinnie Anderson was harshly sent to the sin bin by referee Ashley Klein for a late tackler on the kicker.
Another controversial penalty led to Richards putting Wigan back within six points at half time and the hosts were back on level terms 13 minutes into the second period when Trent Barrett's curving run saw him nip inside Penny for a converted try.
Wigan then added two more tries within seven minutes to effectively end the match.
Liam Colbon crossed after a fine move, which was started by Gareth Hock's break and also involved Carmont and Leuluai.
Barrett followed that by charging past Jon Clarke and Mark Gleeson from close range after receiving a pass from Mickey Higham.
Wigan continued to pile on the points as Hock scored from Leuluai's pass after prop Iafeta Paleaaesina had careered forward and offloaded the ball.
The scoring was then completed as Joel Tomkins fended off Grix's tackle to race down the middle of the field and beat full back Hicks.
Wigan: Pat Richards (7g); Mark Calderwood, Phil Bailey, George Carmont (1t), Liam Colbon (1t); Trent Barrett (2t), Thomas Leuluai; Andy Coley, Mickey Higham, Paul Prescott, Gareth Hock (1t), Harrison Hansen, Sean O'Loughlin. Subs used: Iafeta Paleaaesina, Stuart Fielden, Richie Mathers, Joel Tomkins (1t).
Wolves: Chris Hicks (1g); Kevin Penny, Martin Gleeson, Vinnie Anderson (1t), Matt King (1t); Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood, Louis Anderson, Simon Grix. Subs used: Rob Parker, Andy Bracek (1t), Mark Gleeson, Ben Harrison.
Referee: Ashley Klein.
Attendance: 15,537.