Wakefield 26-40 Wigan

James Gordon

A late flurry helped Wigan to a 40-26 win in an entertaining game against Wakefield at Belle Vue.

Young winger Shaun Ainscough scored four tries as the Warriors claimed the two points in a dress rehearsal of the Challenge Cup Fifth Round matchup.

Ainscough, who had been left out of Brian Noble’s initial 19-man squad, was a late replacement for George Carmont, and has now scored 16 tries in just 10 senior appearances this season.

Scrum half Danny Brough was Wakefield’s main man, and he set up Damien Blanch for the opening score after five minutes.

But Cameron Phelps was key in helping Wigan take a 16-6 lead in the first quarter. First he got on the end of Tim Smith‘s excellent pass, and then he sent Ainscough over twice in quick succession.

A penalty and a converted try from Brough brought Wakefield back to within two points, but another try from Ainscough edged the Warriors further in front.

Brough grabbed his second try before the break to make it 22-20 to the visitors at half time.

Wakefield took the lead once again at the start of the second half thanks to Blanch’s second try, but they were pegged back ten minutes later by Phelps, with Richards’ conversion making it 28-26.

And as the Wildcats tired in the final stages, Wigan pulled away first through Ainscough and then, with just two minutes left, Martin Gleeson grabbed the game clinching try to put Wigan in touch with the top 8.