Warriors charge past Giants
Wigan scored four tries in the space of 18 second-half minutes to secure a 28-10 victory over Huddersfield at Murrayfield.
Last Updated: 02/05/10 6:40pm
Wigan produced a devastating second-half display to clinch a 28-10 win over Huddersfield and move clear again at the Super League summit.
The Warriors scored four tries in the space of 18 minutes after the game had been level at four apiece at the break.
Victory for Michael Maguire's side not only pushes them back two points clear of Warrington in the table but also helps erase the memory of their shock home loss to lowly Harlequins last time out.
They also seem to have a liking for Murrayfield having won the Challenge Cup at the ground back in 2002 against St Helens - the team they also defeated at Magic Weekend in the Scottish capital last year.
Contrasting halves
Sunday's second offering in the 2010 event proved to be a tale of two halves, with Huddersfield the side in the ascendency during the first 40 minutes.
However the Giants failed to turn their territorial dominance into points, only managing one try through Lee Gilmour.
The former Wigan player broke the deadlock after 14 minutes when he accepted Kevin Brown's short pass to charge through to the line.
Wigan had done well to keep their opponents out for so long as they found themselves camped in their own half for long periods.
They were forced to make 163 tackles before the break but still managed to go in with the scores level thanks to a rare foray into Huddersfield territory.
Darrell Goulding scampered in at the corner and the Cherry and Whites could well have been ahead at the interval had Steffan Marsh passed the ball on to a supporting team-mate on the left flank rather than going for the line himself, the debutant eventually being pushed into touch by Leroy Cudjoe.
The missed opportunity did not prove costly, though, as the Warriors ran riot at the second half.
Sam Tomkins reacted quickest when his own grubber kick deflected off the knees of Liam Farrell and rolled over the line, allowing the stand-off to dive on the loose ball for a simple try.
Blitz
Having taken the lead for the first time after 47 minutes Wigan wasted little time in building on their advantage. George Carmont set up Karl Pryce, making a rare appearance in the first team, to dive over in the left corner off the back of a foolish penalty given away by Giants hooker Brad Drew.
Mark Riddell stepped up to slot over the tough conversion due to an injury to Pat Richards, though the full-back was still able to contribute in attack.
The Ireland international was allowed to rise unchallenged to claim Thomas Leuluai's high kick before offloading for Carmont to dive over next to the uprights. This time it was Sam Tomkins who stepped up to add the extras.
Leuluai went from provider to scorer to get a fifth try for Wigan, a superb step of his left foot sending the diminutive New Zealander through the first line of defence before he held off Cudjoe to ground the ball over the whitewash.
Huddersfield did get a second try when Eorl Crabtree crashed over, though the forward's effort, converted by Danny Brough, was a mere consolation.