Wigan travelled to East Hull looking for their first victory in 2007 over Super League’s newest club and did so in comfortable style with a 40-24 victory on Sunday afternoon to move into the top 6.

It was the Warriors who opened the scoring on 4 minutes, Liam Colbon finishing a neat cross field move to score in the left corner. Richards adding the conversion to make it 6-0.

The Warriors impressive start continued as they again took full advantage of the dry conditions; Barrett with a short pass to Goulding who hit the hole in the defence, spun out of the full back clutches to ground the ball 10 meters to the right of the sticks. Richards again adding the conversion to make it 12-0 after 9 minutes.

Rovers slowly fought their way back into the game, but resolute Wigan defence held Hardman and Lennon up close to the try line, but it was Wigan that almost added to their lead on 18 minutes when Millard tried to scoot over from dummy half. He was held up over the line and a poor kick on the 5th tackle was collected on the full in goal. KR then received a ‘piggyback’ up field with Wigan conceding two penalties and diminutive half back Webster fed Scott Murrell who scored in the right hand corner. Cooke failed to add the extra’s. 12-4 after 24 minutes.

The cherry and whites, this afternoon in the all-black away strip, responded immediately. Hardman dropped the kick off and from the scrum the ball moved left through four pairs of hands – including a neat runaround with Fletcher and Barrett – the final pass from O’Loughlin finding Vaealiki who walked in for the try. Richards added his third goal to make it 18-4.

The home side scored next, a group tackle from Wigan Warriors tried to force winger Bauer over the sideline close to the Warriors try line, however the little winger managed to spin out of the tackle to score in the corner. Cooke again missed the kick – 18-8 after 31 minutes.

But it was Wigan who finished the first half stronger Colbon added his second try on 37 minutes as a scintillating move from right to left went through six pairs of hands and numerous dummy runners for Calderwood to pop up in the left centre, draw the winger and feed Colbon who finished well next to the corner flag. Richards failed to add the extras and Wigan extended their lead on the stroke of Half Time as Paul Prescott took advantage of a tiring Rovers pack to hot step his way through the defensive line and outpace the full back to score under the sticks. Richards this time made the kick to bring up a half time score of 28-8.

Rovers opened the second half scoring through Iain Morrison. The second rower capitalised on a period of sustained pressure to force his way over the try line from close range. Cooke again missed the conversion, the score 28-12 after 44 minutes.

Wigan responded following an attempted 40-20 by Scott Murrell which went straight out on the full. Patient build up from Wigan through the forwards was rewarded as Leuluai threw the dummy and made a huge left foot step to score under the sticks. Richards extras made it 34-12 after 51 minutes.

A scrappy game ensued, Rovers forcing three goal line dropouts and both sides going close to scoring, however it was the young Kris Welham who scored next for Rovers on his debut, collecting a hacked ball ahead to ground next to the posts. Lennon added their first goal of the afternoon to make it 34-18 after 70 minutes.

Hull KR scored through Rhys Lovegrove, goaled by Lennon and the Warriors finished the scoring as Calderwood finished a length of the field move, converted by Richards on the full time hooter.

The Warriors put themselves in pole position for a playoff spot with this victory and set up a humdinger at the JJB on Friday when St Helens travel to Wigan. The score finishing 40-24 with the win effectively sealed in the first half.

Wigan Warriors: Pat Richards, Mark Calderwood, David Vaealiki, Darrell Goulding, Liam Colbon, Trent Barrett, Thomas Leuluai, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Shane Millard, Stuart Fielden, Phil Bailey, Bryan Fletcher, Sean O'Loughlin
Subs: Paul Prescott, Mick Higham, Eamon O'Carroll, Danny Hill

Tries: Mark Calderwood, David Vaealiki, Darrell Goulding, Liam Colbon(2), Thomas Leuluai, Paul Prescott
Goals: Pat Richards(6)

Hull KR: Ian Hardman, Mark Lennon, Rhys Lovegrove, Luke Dyer, Andreas Bauer, Paul Cooke, James Webster, Mick Vella, Ben Fisher, Ryan Tandy, Makali Aizue, Mark O’Neill, Scott Murrell
Subs: Jim Gannon, David Tangata-Toa, Iain Morrison, Kris Welham

Tries: Murrell, Bauer, Morrison, Welham, Lovegrove
Goals: Lennon (2)