Sheffield Eagles 12 Wigan 54

WIGAN proved that despite the sale of Martin Offiah they still have plenty of big guns to call upon.

The Riversiders still have talent in abundance and two of their leading youngsters Henry Paul and Andy Farrell produced enough firepower to blast the Eagles out of sight.

The duo were in a different class to the Yorkshiremen and made it tell with a devastating performance of pace and power to close the gap back to just one point behind leaders St Helens.

Coach Graeme West was delighted with the way his side had responded saying: "They played very well. They have been improving for the last couple of games, but it all seemed to come together.

"It was very pleasing to see the team spirit and that showed by the way they worked together. It keeps the pressure on St Helens for the remaining three games."

Three tries in the first-half paved the way for victory. Paul grabbed the first when he pounced on a loose ball, then Jason Robinson jinked his way over before Simon Haughton crashed through the defensive line. Farrell added three goals, while the Eagles reply was a try just before the break by John Lawless and two Mark Aston goals.

Gary Connolly quickly extended their lead after the break before Paul scored a brilliant individual try from 50 yards. Craig Murdock grabbed another before his replacement Shaun Edwards got on the scoresheet. Martin Hall and Danny Ellison completed the rout with Farrell maintaining 100 per cent accuracy with another six goals. The Eagles could only manage a Jean Garcia try.

WIGAN: Radlinski, Robinson, Tuigamala, Connolly, Ellison, Paul, Murdock, Cowie, Hall, O'Connor, Haughton, Cassidy, Farrell. Subs: Skerrett (for Cowie 22), Barrow (for Haughton 35), Smyth for (Ellison HT), Ellison (for Tuigamala 54), Edwards (for Murdock 58) Haughton (for Connolly 63). Att: 5,103.

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