Super League: Wigan Warriors thrash Bradford Bulls 84-6
Wigan made it a memorable Easter period with a convincing 84-6 demolition of bottom club Bradford Bulls.
Last Updated: 21/04/14 5:47pm
The Super League champions made it two wins in four days, following their Good Friday victory over St Helens with another dominant display in an 84-6 win which saw Ryan Hampshire collect a personal tally of 24 points.
Hampshire ran in two tries in the opening 25 minutes as the Warriors touched down eight times in the first period, with Bradford not once crossing over Wigan's 20-yard line as they led 46-0.
The hosts ran in a further seven tries in the second half with John Bateman, Darrell Goulding, Blake Green, George Williams, Anthony Gelling, Dom Manfredi and Gil Dudson all getting in on the act.
Young prop Ryan Sutton was handed his Wigan debut from the bench following Good Friday injuries to Ben Flower and Eddy Pettybourne, while Hampshire and Williams started at full-back and scrum-half respectively with Matty Bowen and Matty Smith rested.
The Warriors took just five minutes to open the scoring with Green going over from close range after Williams had put them in great position with a break down the right after a Bateman offload.
Dan Sarginson was then denied by a superb cover tackle from Brett Kearney, but minutes later Gelling went over for Wigan's second try following good work from Green and Sean O'Loughlin.
Wigan found themselves 16-0 up as skipper O'Loughlin touched down under the posts and Hampshire's conversion gave them a commanding lead with just 15 minutes gone.
Massive gap
Wigan's fourth try came in the 21st minute when Williams and Green combined to send Hampshire through a massive gap to touch down, and the try of the half came moments later as Liam Farrell stormed onto a short ball from Green, and after breaking the first line of defence he sent the full-back racing away to score.
Further tries from Farrell, Jack Hughes and Sam Powell took the match well and truly beyond the Bulls.
Bradford had the first attack of the second half when Elliot Kear collected a crossfield bomb from Powell and made off upfield. He was clear and looked certain to race 95 metres to score but Farrell managed to track back and catch him.
Hampshire continued to cause problems for the Bradford defence and following another break the Warriors crossed for their ninth try with Bateman going over in the corner, Williams this time adding the extras.
This game was certainly heading towards a cricket score as Goulding backed up a good passing move involving Green and Bateman, with Williams this time missing the conversion.
Green, who was outstanding for the Warriors, showed both pace and power to go 50 metres for his second try and Williams made it 62-0 with half an hour still left to play.
Wigan's 12th try was a little bit special as Hampshire again coasted through some poor defence before sending a ball back inside for Williams to go in under the posts.
Wigan seemed to take the foot off the gas but still managed further tries from Gelling, Manfredi and Dudson, although the travelling Bradford fans finally had something to shout about in the 67th minute when Luke Gale stepped his way over for their first and only try of the game.