Sheffield Eagles 8 Wigan Warriors 36

BETTER late than never was the only consolation Wigan could take for avenging last week's Wembley defeat.

The Super League fixtures paired the Challenge Cup finalists together just a week after the Eagles' sensational victory, but this time it went to plan with the Warriors collecting the two points to take them back to the top of the the table.

"I am happy to win this game, we can't do anything about Wembley, we have to move on," said coach John Monie.

"Everybody is disappointed but we have to get on with it. It is a tough challenge for us every week. Getting beaten at Wembley certainly smartens you up and the lads played well."

Victory was in the bag after the first quarter of the game as Wigan started like a whirlwind while Sheffield were still celebrating.

Skipper Farrell was again outstanding having a hand in virtually every try and landing six goals which took him to a career total of 500.

Tony Smith started and finished the opening try, quickly followed by Jason Robinson who scampered over from Farrell's break. Aussie winger Mark Bell collected Farrell's towering kick at the second attempt to score before Farrell sent in Danny Moore. Eagles' only points came just before the break when Keith Senior dived in at the corner and Mark Aston tagged on the goal.

Wigan eased up a little in the second-half but in a bad- tempered game, which saw Farrell put on report for a high tackle on Senior, they were never in any danger of being overhauled.

Henry Paul's long pass sent big Aussie Moore over for his second try before hard-working Aussie hooker Rob McCormack broke free and fed Kris Radlinski who jinked over by the posts.

Prop Terry O'Connor was the only change from the Wembley line-up with winger Paul Johnson taking over his substitute role, while Neil Cowie started the game with Stephen Holgate on the bench.

"I went with four props up to Wembley but I always had the intention of changing to three after the final," admitted Monie. "Cowie started in the front-row as he has shown great determination and I was happy with the way he went."

WIGAN: Radlinski, Bell, Connolly, Moore, Robinson, Paul, Smith, Cowie, McCormack, Mestrov, Betts, Haughton, Farrell. Subs: Gilmour, Holgate, Cassidy, Johnson.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.