Wigan weather storm to extend unbeaten run

Warrington Wolves 18 Wigan Warriors 4

Wigan Warriors extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches and moved one point behind second-placed Bradford after compounding Warrington's relegation anxieties in a thrilling derby clash at Wilderspool.

Warrington, looking decidedly improved under new coach Paul Cullen, remain one point ahead of bottom club Salford with four games left. But Cullen knows that their fate is in their own hands, with games to come against fellow strugglers Halifax, Salford and Wakefield.

Wigan survived the disruption of a late change to their starting line-up with winger Brian Carney forced to pull out after suffering a reaction to a pain-killing injection, Sean O'Loughlin coming off the bench. Happily, Carney recovered to play the last 15 minutes. They also had to withstand a determined Warrington onslaught with Lee Briers' slide-rule kick creating an opening try for Sid Domic that Briers converted.

Wigan were slow to get into gear and almost fell further behind when the Warrington hooker Jon Clarke was held up over the line on his back. But Terry Newton inspired a Wigan comeback, cutting between two defenders for an equalising try.

Adrian Lam then sent Kris Radlinski, back after a six-match injury lay-off, scything over for an angled finish before Lam and Farrell combined to send Newton over for his second.

Warrington fought back with a try by Rob Smyth, who collected Darren Burns' long pass and burrowed over in the corner with Briers again on target, only for Mick Cassidy to send Wigan in with a 24-12 interval lead with an opportunist score. Cassidy kicked ahead twice and beat Smyth to the touchdown with Julian O'Neill landing his fourth conversion of the half.

But any hopes of a Warrington fight-back disappeared as Wigan ruthlessly turned the screw at the start of the second half. Lam popped up on Farrell's shoulder to notch his seventh try in the last six games before Cassidy sent Shaun Briscoe over for his first try in Wigan colours. Farrell then broke through to score Wigan's seventh try and open up a 40-12 lead.

Warrington, though, showed character that will hearten Cullen by stemming the flow of points and replying with a flowing move that saw Dean Busby send Graham Appo flying in at the corner in a late act of defiance. Worryingly though, Briers left the field late in the game clutching an elbow after a collision with Radlinski and Warrington fans will be sweating on the fitness of their most inventive player.

Warrington: Penny; Smyth, Domic, Mathers, Appo; Briers, N Wood; Hilton, Clarke, Laughton, Marquet, Guisset, Burns. Substitutes used: Busby, Noone, Fozzard, P Wood.

Wigan: Radlinski; Connolly, O'Loughlin, Hodgson, Briscoe; O'Neill, Lam; Howard, Newton, C Smith, Furner, Cassidy, Farrell. Substitutes used: Tickle, M Smith, Bibey, Carney.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).