Wakefield 32-16 Wigan: Warriors lose ground on leaders
By Simon Mail
Last Updated: 08/06/18 9:39am
Wakefield moved a step closer to a top-eight finish in Betfred Super League by beating second-placed Wigan 32-16, who suffered their third consecutive defeat.
Tries from Ben Jones-Bishop and Bill Tupou fired Trinity into a deserved 14-0 lead before Wigan rallied and scored through Gabe Hamlin.
Jones-Bishop profited from an interception as he ran the length of the pitch to extend Wakefield's lead at the start of the second half before Tom Johnstone added the hosts' fourth try to give them a commanding 24-6 advantage.
Tom Davies scored a superb individual try in the last 10 minutes for Wigan and the visitors quickly added another through Morgan Escare but Pauli Pauli's effort clinched the win for Wakefield.
It was a third successive defeat in all competitions for the Warriors and a missed opportunity for the team to close the gap on Super League leaders St Helens.
The hosts dominated the opening 30 minutes of the match and it was no surprise when they took the lead through Jones-Bishop after his sharp finish in the corner.
Wakefield capitalised on indiscipline from Wigan as Ryan Hampshire fired over a penalty before Matty Ashurst released Tupou for the converted try.
A seventh penalty against the visitors proved costly with Hampshire firing over the two points to stretch their lead.
Wigan came to life before the break and were rewarded with their first points after replacement Hamlin scored his first try for the club.
Jones-Bishop scored his 12th try of the season, early on in the second half, after intercepting the ball and running from deep inside his own half.
A brilliant finish in the corner from Johnstone and a Hampshire penalty extended Trinity's lead to 20 points.
Wigan rallied late on with Davies beating several players to score before Escare touched the ball down.
But Sam Tomkins was penalised for dissent and Wakefield took advantage through a powerful Pauli finish to seal the win and climb above champions Leeds into sixth place.