Wigan Warriors 44, Oldham Bears 10 WIGAN secured their first home win in three outings and coach Eric Hughes is hoping it can launch a renewed title charge.

"It has done us the world of good, confidence wise, and we are not out of the title race yet. I want it to be the platform so that we can go undefeated to Australia in June," he said.

"We badly needed the win. They were solid in defence in the first-half but we wore them down and took control as they tired."

Hughes needs to be positive after his side won only three of their first six games before yesterday, but Oldham are the poorest side the Warriors have faced this season.

The visitors rarely ruffled the Wigan feathers and the result was hardly ever in doubt, but for all the home side's dominance through prop Terry O'Connor, centre Gary Connolly and full-back Jason Robinson, it was down to their individual talents rather than a fluent team style. It was only in the latter stages with Wigan well on top that the confidence flowed..

Wigan led 16-6 at the break with tries by O'Connor, Andy Johnson and Connolly with Andy Farrell adding a couple of goals. Oldham scored just before the break through David Stephenson and Francis Maloney goaled.

Any chance of a shock win was quickly put to rest when Tony Smith darted over two minutes after the break and tries flowed steadily through Johnson, Farrell, Connolly and Murdock. Farrell added three goals and Martin Hall one before Matt Munro scored a late Oldham try.

WIGAN: Robinson, Cardiss, Radlinski, Connolly, Johnson, Smith, Murdock, O'Connor. Cassidy, Holgate, Haughton, Tallec, Farrell. Subs: Cowie (for Holgate 30), Wright (for Murdock 50), Murray (for cardiss 64), Hall (for cassidy 68), Murdock (for Farrell 73). Att: 7,885.

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