Wigan 52 Wakefield 10: Gelling hat-trick puts pressure on Wildcats

Wigan Warriors' Anthony Gelling scores his hat trick try against Wakefield.

Wigan got off to an ideal start after just three minutes with Liam Farrell going over unopposed after collecting the ball from Joe Burgess.

Smith added a penalty after Wakefield were penalised for offside and then showed the Wildcats defence a clean pair of heels to cross the whitewash.

Wakefield were failing to conjure anything constructive and Wigan took advantage to increase their lead as Manfredi collected a ball from Joel Tomkins to force his way over in the corner.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard through Chris Riley, although Craig Hall was off-target with the conversion.

Wigan, though, extended their lead when Joel Tomkins put a hit on Jordan Hand that caused him to spill the ball and allowed Gelling to race 40 metres to score.

The one-way traffic continued into the second half as Manfredi collected a ball from Gelling. The scrum-half missed the conversion but the Warriors led 30-4.

Wakefield managed to pull a try back as Paul McShane burrowed his way over, with Hall converting. But Warriors half-back Smith then sent Mossop over.

Seconds later Farrell broke clear to grab his second, with Smith converting both as the Warriors went 42-10 ahead.

Gelling scored his second of the night after collecting Joel Tomkins’ offload before completing his hat-trick when Wakefield made a mess of Smith’s towering bomb. Smith converted.

Wigan Warriors: Hampshire, Manfredi, Gelling, Sarginson, Burgess, Williams, Smith, Mossop, McIlorum, Clubb, J. Tomkins, L. Farrell, Bateman. Substitutes: Tautai, Patrick, L. Tomkins, C. Farrell.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Owen, Riley, Arundel, Collis, Johnstone, Sammut, Hall, Scruton, Washbrook, Griffin, Lauitiiti, Ryan, D. Smith. Substitutes: McShane, Simon, Crowther, Hand.

Referee: George Stokes (RFL).