Wigan Warriors 28 Huddersfield Giants 10: Huddersfield fail to show title credentials as Wigan sparkle

The much-anticipated Magic Weekend game between two sides hoping to end Leeds Rhinos' three-year domination of the competition simmered for 40 minutes with the scores locked at 4-4 at half-time.

But Huddersfield were ruthlessly unpicked in the second half as Wigan, led superbly by captain Sean O'Loughlin and with England stand-off Sam Tomkins proving a constant nuisance, bounced back from last week's shock defeat against bottom-placed Harlequins.

Giants coach Nathan Brown had caused a stir pre-match by admitting he would rest some of his in-form players, given the need to keep his squad fresh throughout the campaign.

David Fa'alogo and Jamahl Lolesi both dropped out and the West Yorkshire club – who remain in fourth but now six points adrift of Wigan – certainly missed their explosive impact as they were continually repelled by their determined opponents' solid defence.

Wigan, meanwhile, shrugged off their own injury problems, 19-year-old centre Stefan Marsh making a confident and promising Super League debut while former Bradford Bulls winger Karl Pryce – the forgotten man of Super League – came in from the cold for his first game in 10 months, marking it with a well-taken try.

Huddersfield controlled the early stages and forced most of the pressure but it was their failure to convert any of that into points which arguably proved their downfall.

Danny Brough – the former Scotland captain who has relinquished that role to try and feature for England this year – had been bought from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats earlier this season to give them a new dimension to their kicking game.

However, yesterday his final plays were generally poor allowing Wigan to escape that period almost unscathed. The one time Brough did force a drop-out, Huddersfield tellingly scored.

Lee Gilmour raced onto Kevin Brown's pass, powerfully fended Thomas Leuluai and accelerated over on 14 minutes, but there was not enough dynamism to consistently open Wigan up.

O'Loughlin was lucky to stay on the field after an ugly late tackle floored Luke Robinson barely a minute before and there was a series of huge collisions in a bruising encounter.

Defences were on top for most of the first period, unsurprising given the two sides are widely regarded as the finest exponents of the wrestle technique which has become such an issue in Super League this season.

Wigan prop Andy Coley clattered into Martin Aspinwall with one seismic tackle and scoring opportunities were scarce.

It took the Warriors until the 20th minute to actually break into Huddersfield territory but they instantly delivered with a crisp backline move.

Mark Riddell, Leuluai and Tomkins combined to allow Darrell Goulding to grasp his seventh try in six games.

Like Brough before, Pat Richards missed the conversion attempt but his side suddenly found their rhythm.

O'Loughlin brilliantly kept the ball alive off a loose kick to give Marsh an opportunity, Huddersfield full-back Leroy Cudjoe needing to chase hard to shove the speeding teenager into touch just inches short.

Sam Tomkins thought he had got over off O'Loughlin's troublesome kick but the stand-off was pulled back for a knock-on.

However, there would be no stopping Tomkins in the second half as he took control of the game, out-playing opposite number Brown who is challenging for his England jersey next month.

Crabtree lost possession in a punishing tackle from Eamon O'Carroll and, on 45 minutes, Huddersfield failed to deal with Tomkins's probing grubber.

He followed up to touch down, Pat Richards converted and, after Brad Drew was harshly penalised for colliding with O'Carroll off the ball, Wigan scored their third try in the 49th minute.

Tomkins was again involved, finding George Carmont with a wide pass before the Samoan centre blasted through the Huddersfield defence for Pryce to finish wide out. With Richards struggling with a thigh strain, Riddell slotted the kick from the touchline and, after Leuluai had carved Huddersfield open again with a killer inside pass to Richards down the middle, rampant Wigan closed out the game.

Tomkins hoisted a high kick which Richards gathered just short of the Huddersfield line, freeing himself from the tackle to off-load for Carmont who had a simple job falling over the whitewash.

Tomkins improved the score and did likewise when Leuluai gracefully side-stepped his way past Graeme Horne and through Cudjoe.

Crabtree twisted over for a Huddersfield consolation in the 73rd minute, Brough tagging on the extras, but it was Wigan – having briefly lost top spot to Warrington on Saturday night – who emerged having again under-lined their championship potential.

Wigan Warriors: Richards; Goulding, Marsh, Carmont, Pryce; S Tomkins, Leuluai; Fielden, McIlorum, Coley, Bailey, J Tomkins, O'Loughlin. Substitutes: Riddell, Paleaaesina, O'Carroll, Farrell.

Huddersfield Giants: Cudjoe; Grix, Lawrence, Whatuira, D Hodgson; Brown, Brough; Crabtree, Robinson, Mason, Gilmour, Horne, Aspinwall. Substitutes: Raleigh, Drew, Faiumu, Patrick.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).