Wakefield Trinity 22 Wigan Warriors 26: Hosts pay price for naivety in thrilling Challenge Cup tie

After celebrating their first season back in Super League with a play-off appearance, Trinity appear well set for another top-six tilt following a bright start to this year.

But their shortcomings in the biggest games were exposed again as they exited the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage on Sunday afternoon.

Daryl Powell's side paid the price for moments of naivety in a captivating clash with Wigan Warriors.

Trinity – buoyed by five straight wins – raced into a 12-0 lead but lost control of the tie either side of half-time.

Wakefield were left to rue the loss of Jazz Tevaga to the sin bin, the forward's moment of madness costing his team 10 points.

The hosts clawed their way back into the contest but Wigan's big-game experience told as they closed out a thrilling win.

After losing a third quarter-final, Trinity must find a way to live up to their promise and take the next steps.

Fine margins decided Sunday's absorbing game at Belle Vue.

It always had the makings of the weekend's standout tie and the rivals did not disappoint.

Wakefield quickly set about preying on the vulnerabilities on show in Wigan's defeats to Huddersfield Giants and St Helens.

It took the hosts just six minutes to make the breakthrough, Mike McMeeken taking an offload from Ky Rodwell and keeping his composure to give Jake Trueman a clear run to the line.

When Rodwell managed to plonk the ball down in heavy traffic with just 13 minutes on the clock, Trinity were threatening to run away with it.

But it was never going to be that easy against a proud Challenge Cup team.

The introduction of Patrick Mago helped swing the momentum in Wigan's favour.

The powerhouse prop scored the crucial next try after Liam Farrell patted back Harry Smith's high kick and the ball sat up for him to finish.

With Mago leading the charge, Wakefield struggled to contain the Warriors and saw their early advantage wiped out.

Junior Nsemba threatened to barrel his way over before Liam Marshall cut back inside to finish from Jai Field's long ball.

But Wakefield came up with two big plays to halt Wigan's momentum and retake the lead.

After Cam Scott shut down Field on the last tackle to force a turnover near halfway, Tevaga's quick play-the-ball gave Trinity's left edge the time they needed to put Tom Johnstone over in the corner.

But there was more drama to come before half-time. Tevaga was fortunate to only see yellow for kicking out at Marshall but it proved to be a costly rush of blood with the Warriors scoring twice in his absence.

Smith was the architect of both tries, dribbling a grubber through for Field to finish on the final play of the half before sending Zach Eckersley over with another kick within two minutes of the restart.

Just when it looked as if Wigan had control of the game at 22-16, back came Trinity.

Scott jinked his way over at the end of a messy passage of play to give Max Jowitt the chance to level the scores from the tee, only for the tie to take a decisive twist as Wakefield became distracted by flashpoints.

Trueman produced a crucial tackle on Jack Farrimond but the Warriors were not to be denied, Adam Keighran giving Eckersley an easy finish in the corner two plays later.

Wigan – uncharacteristically shaky in recent games – held their nerve in the closing stages to manage the match and book a semi-final date with St Helens.

Trueman gave the hosts a flicker of hope when he threatened to break through but the chance went and so too did Wakefield's cup hopes.

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Pratt, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Nikotemo, Vagana, Pitts. Substitutes: Tevaga, Hamlin-Uele, Smith, Lolesio.

Tries: Trueman (6), Rodwell (13), Johnstone (33), Scott (53).

Goals: Jowitt 3/4.

Sin bin: Tevaga (36).

Wigan Warriors: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall, Farrimond, Smith, Eseh, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis. Substitutes: Mago, Partington, McDermott, Hodkinson.

Tries: Mago (20), Marshall (29), Field (40), Eckersley (42, 63).

Goals: Keighran 3/5.

Referee: Liam Moore.