Six in a row for Warriors

Hock: first Super League hat-trick

Gareth Hock scored a hat-trick as Wigan crushed Wakefield in a one-sided contest at the DW Stadium.

The prop marked his first start since returning from a two-year suspension with his first Super League hat-trick, as the defending champions eased to a sixth straight win.

But the Warriors forward was outshone by a fine all-round performance from England full-back Sam Tomkins, who scored two of Wigan's eight tries.

Second-bottom Wakefield had lost their last four, leaking 208 points in the process, and another drubbing looked on the cards as the hosts were 12-0 up inside 10 minutes.

The Wildcats rallied and might have levelled, but Wigan crossed three times in seven minutes before the break to lead 30-6 at half-time.

Tomkins then claimed his second try, with Hock crossing twice late on, while Pat Richards kicked all eight goals to finish with 20 points.

Hock was making his fourth appearance since returning from his drugs ban and the England forward took just four minutes to make his mark, charging onto Paul Deacon's short ball to burst through and score under the posts.

Wakefield replied with Chris Dean being held up but Wigan extended their lead shortly after, Hock supporting Brett Finch to break through and usher George Carmont in.

Again, the Wildcats made a positive response with Matthew Wildie's diagonal kick forcing Tomkins to concede a goal-line drop-out.

And in the 16th minute Josh Griffin gathered a scrappy pass wide to cut inside and claim a well-taken try.

Carmont's ankle tap denied Griffin a breakaway try moments later and although the visitors swept play to the other wing, Semi Tadulala was bundled into touch.

Harrison Hansen was stopped short for Wigan but a fine Tomkins tackle denied Frankie Mariano a Wakefield try before Jeremy Smith was held up.

Josh Charnley had to tap Josh Veivers' grubber out for a repeat set but a Wildcats knock-on relieved the pressure before Mariano was penalised for a high tackle on Tomkins.

And Wigan took full advantage with Finch and Tomkins combining to send Pat Richards over on the left.

Finch then managed to offload in the tackle for Tomkins to touch down, and just a minute later, Tomkins burst down the right before kicking through for Charnley to win the chase and slide over.

Scrappy

After a scrappy start to the second half, Tomkins' chip kick forced Veivers to concede a drop-out but more sloppy play left the DW Stadium waiting for the first second-half score.

Wakefield spurned the chance to deliver it following a penalty and a Charnley knock-on, with Smith's grubber comfortably taken by Tomkins.

A fine Tomkins kick put the hosts back on the front foot and shortly after he chipped through and gathered his own kick to claim a 66th-minute try.

Hock then picked the right angle to charge onto another Deacon pass before pouncing on a loose ball after a Tomkins break to seal his hat-trick.

That completed a comfortable night for the Warriors, who know they will be in for a much tougher test next weekend as they meet Warrington in an eagerly awaited Challenge Cup quarter-final.