LONDON BRONCOS 8 WIGAN WARRIORS 38: JOHN Monie's magic touch has done the trick again for Wigan.

The little Aussie has had only a few months to prepare the Warriors for the new season but already they are back walking in a Wembley wonderland.

Wigan have still got Sheffield Eagles to overcome on May 2 - and that will not be easy - but they are producing the form that has made them favourites to again end up running round the famous old stadium with the Silk Cut Challenge Cup.

Monie has the distinction of never losing a cup game in five campaigns and from the moment Andy Farrell put Jason Robinson over in the corner with the match less than two minutes old, that proud record was never really in doubt.

London tried to bulldoze their way down the middle, but their big forwards were contained by a superbly disciplined defence with Neil Cowie and Farrell outstanding, and appeared unable to find other options with former Central Park flyer Martin Offiah given few running opportunities.

In fact it was Wigan who showed they had the pace and guile in the backs to torment London and never really allowed them to harbour thoughts of a possible visit to the Twin Towers.

Man-of-the-match Tony Smith punched holes in the Broncos defence with his lightning speed always putting them on the back foot while skipper Farrell's long passing, so effective against St Helens, was again used to devastating effect. It was one such pass from the loose-forward in the 26th minute which enabled the much improved Henry Paul to jink his way round two defenders before lobbing the ball to Mark Bell and the Aussie gleefully dived over in the corner. Farrell added his second touchline conversion to go with a 40 yards penalty to put Wigan 14-4 ahead at the break, London having scored in the 16th minute through full-back Nick Mardon.

Smith's scything run to put Kris Radlinski over eight minutes into the second-half proved decisive as there was only then going to be one winner.

When big Aussie prop Grant Young was sent to the sin-bin for holding down Wigan took full advantage of the extra man to quickly run in tries for Radlinski and two from Moore with Farrell adding another four goals.

Broncos gained scant consolation with an injury time try by Butch Fatnowna.

WIGAN: Radlinski, Bell, Connolly, Moore, Robinson, Paul, Smith, Mestrov, McCormack, Holgate, Betts, Haughton, Farrell. Subs: Gilmour (for Betts 32), Cowie (for Holgate 20), O'Connor (for Mestrov 51), Betts (for Haughton 51), Cassidy (for Gilmour 59), Haughton (for Connolly 69). Att: 11,058.

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