Wigan Warriors ease to victory over much-changed Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

A MUCH-CHANGED Wakefield Trinity Wildcats side fell to a 36-6 defeat at Wigan Warriors on Easter Monday.

Warriors ran in seven tries to ease to victory over off-form Wakefield, who scored a late consolation try through Kyle Wood on a wet and miserable day at the DW Stadium.

With two games in four days over Easter, plus Friday's Carnegie Challenge Cup clash at Leeds Rhinos firmly in mind, Wakefield head coach Richard Agar made a number of changes to his squad for the trip across the Pennines.

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Fringe players Andy Ellis, Frankie Mariano and Motu Tony all started alongside youngsters Liam Kay, Kyle Wood and Lucas Walshaw. Paul Aiton was included after Steve Southern pulled out through a hamstring injury, meaning Danny Washbrook led the Wakefield team.

And Wildcats, who went into the tough test on the back of a disappointing derby defeat against Castleford Tigers on Friday, started well, limiting the Warriors' attacking threat early on.

That was until the 14th minute when Thomas Leuluai powered over the whitewash for the first points of the match. Anthony Gelling doubled Wigan's lead just before the half-hour, Josh Charnley converting, before a Darrell Goulding try and Charnley penalty on the hooter gave the hosts a 16-0 half-time lead.

George Carmont took just four minutes to add Wigan's next points on the resumption, his first of two second-half tries, while Charnley converted a try of his own and Goulding also completed his brace.

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Wood found his way over to give the travelling Wakefield fans something to cheer and Sykes added the conversion, but it was too little too late.

Wildcats: Tony, Fox, Sykes, Mellars, Kay, John, Wood, Wilkes, Ellis, Amor, Walshaw, Mariano, Washbrook. Subs: Aiton, Johnson, Wildie, Trout.

Warriors: Sam Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Gelling, Finch, Leuluai, Logan Tomkins, Lima, Hansen, Hock, Tuson. Subs: Lauaki, Dudson, Hughes, McIlorum.

See this week's Wakefield Express for all the latest sports news from around the district.