Wigan Warriors 70 Swinton Lions 12 by Chris Hall
WARRIORS boss Stuart Raper faces a tough selection dilemma over the coming weeks after Wigan's new breed again proved themselves fit to graduate from the club's academy.
Despite missing five first team regulars, Wigan cruised into tomorrow's semi-final draw with a 13-try demolition of lowly Swinton.
The performance was highlighted by a magnificent showing from Wigan's under 21 contingent of Gareth Hock, Sean O'Loughlin, Martin Aspinwall and Luke Robinson, whose sensational pace and ball skills had Swinton chasing shadows all afternoon.
And Raper admits he faces some tough choices when the likes of Andy Farrell, Mick Cassidy, Brian Carney, Terry O'Connor and Danny Tickle return from injury over the next fortnight.
"These young guys aren't just filling in for injured players. They are staking serious claims for first team spots," he said.
"Everyone presumes they are just there to make up the numbers but they aren't. It will be really interesting to see which players come straight back into the squad when everyone's fit because I'm really happy with the way the young guys are playing.
"But I'm going to try and keep Gareth Hock's feet on the ground. He has been fortunate that his introduction into the first team has been against lesser opposition.
"He showed some real class again today but the test will come when we are playing Super League sides week in, week out."
Wigan, desperate to prove a point after a lacklustre start to the campaign, were guilty of trying too hard early on, wasting a string of chances by forcing the pass too many times in a bid to run up a cricket score.
Swinton even had the temerity to take the lead after ten minutes when Kris Radlinski spilled a Chris Hough bomb into the arms of a grateful Rob Russell.
But Wigan hit back with six tries in 15 minutes, from Robinson, Hock, David Hodgson, Brett Dallas, Paul Johnson and Jamie Ainscough, to crush hopes of a shock by the interval.
The second half was a procession, with Dallas and Hodgson doubling their tallies to add to further scores from O'Loughlin, Aspinwall, Ricky Bibey, Mark Smith and Adrian Lam.
Wigan: Radlinski, Dallas, Aspinwall, Hodgson, Ainscough, Robinson, Lam, Sculthorpe, Newton, C Smith, Hock, Johnson, O'Loughlin. Subs: Bibey, M Smith, Wild, O'Neil. Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick. Attendance: 5,114.
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