Canterbury Bulldogs 18 Wigan Warriors 22

SUPER Wigan stopped the rot by becoming the first British side to tame the Aussies with a magnificent display in Sydney this morning.

Eight British teams have suffered at the hands of the Australians in the World Club Championship over the weekend but the Warriors turned the tables in dramatic fashion.

Wigan had to withstand an opening barrage from the Bulldogs but magnificent defence kept the Aussies out.

The Warriors came storming back and caught the Canterbury defence all at sea to score. Andy Johnson broke clear and was tackled by the full-back but Nigel Wright, showing tremendous vision, spotted there was no one back and chipped ahead for Jason Robinson to score a simple touchdown. Andy Farrell landed the touchline goal.

Within minutes Wigan had a lucky escape when a try was disallowed by the video ref after El Masri was adjudged to have knocked on as he and Robinson went for an up-and-under. Farrell missed a 38th minute penalty but just before the break Tony Smith sent Simon Haughton away out wide and he knocked off three defenders before plunging in at the corner for a brilliant solo effort.

The Warriors made a sensational start to the second-half scoring after just two minutes when Gary Connolly broke from dummy-half, beat three men in a jinking run before sending out a long pass for Johnson to steam over. Farrell landed the goal to put Wigan in a comfortable 16-0 lead.

The visitors came up with another superb defensive display to keep the Bulldogs out again but suffered a setback when influential skipper Farrell limped off with what looked like a hamstring pull.

It did little to stem Warriors' supremacy as Wright made a delightful break before sending the supporting Robinson in for his second try. Paul added the goal.

As the pace of the game told on the Warriors the Bulldogs staged a dramatic fightback.

Jason Hetherington finally broke the duck when he burrowed his way over in the 66th minute and Darryl Halligan added the goal. Three minutes later and Jason Temu crossed in the corner and Halligan landed the touchline goal. A minute from time and another 'bomb' caught out Johnson allowing Matt Ryan to pounce in the corner and Halligan goaled again.

WIGAN: Paul, Robinson, Radlinski, Connolly, Johnson, Wright, Smith, Cowie, Hall, Hansen, Haughton, Cassidy, Farrell. Subs: Koloi, Tallec (for Farrell 50), Holgate (for Hansen 30), Hansen (for Holgate 62), Holgate (for Hansen 80).

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