Super League: London Broncos 22-60 Wigan Warriors - reigning champions go top again

Media caption,

Super League: Wigan Warriors run in whopping 10 tries to thrash London Broncos

Betfred Super League

London (10) 22

Tries: Jones, Kershaw (2), Williams Goals: Leyland (3)

Wigan (22) 60

Tries: Wardle, Miski, Dupree, Hill (2), O'Neill, Mago, Eckersley, Hampshire, Keighran Goals: Keighran (10)

Wigan ran in 10 tries against London Broncos to go top of Super League.

The world champions were given a contest in the first half as tries from Jacob Jones and Lee Kershaw kept the newly promoted home side in sight.

But Warriors ran away with it after the interval, helped by the sin-binning of Rob Butler as Adam Keighran tallied 24 points on his own.

Prop Harvie Hill claimed two of the tries in a win that means Wigan are the only side with a 100% record.

The game looked like a mismatch before the start with Warriors fresh from beating Penrith Panthers to proclaim themselves the best side on the planet, while Broncos have yet to register a win after their return to the top flight.

That disparity was soon underlined as Wigan quickly raced into double figures, Jake Wardle capitalising on an Iliess Macani fumble and then Abbas Miski crashing over from a quick play-the-ball.

Broncos had begun with intent, however, and Jones went over to put them back in it.

Wigan's power up front was proving too much for the home side as Tyler Dupree and youngster Hill both blasted over to give Wigan breathing space.

Broncos' wing Kershaw was denied one try after the ball slipped from his grasp but he dived over for a more assured finish under pressure from Jai Field to ensure there were only 12 points in it at half-time.

London then scored with their first attack of the second half, Macani doing brilliantly to knock back Oliver Leyland's high kick and Rhys Kennedy picking up to send Jordan Williams over to move to within a score.

But Butler was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle and Keighran showed Wigan's concern over the narrowing of their lead by taking the two points from the resulting penalty.

With the one-man advantage, Wigan put Brad O'Neill and Patrick Mago over for tries to quash any thoughts of a famous Broncos comeback.

Zach Eckersley raced 80 yards for a memorable try and Ryan Hampshire added another before Kershaw made it a good day personally with another sharp finish in the corner to narrow the gap slightly.

Wigan picked it up again as Hill scored his second before Keighran ended the game with a try to add to his 10 successful kicks.

London Broncos coach Mike Eccles told BBC Radio London:

"We were really, really poor defensively. The biggest 'learn' we've had so far in Super League is that we've got to compete much harder defensively to get a crack at winning the game - we did that last week but today every time we made an error they scored, and good teams don't do that.

"In the second half the lads went out with a rocket up them, scored straight away, and we were in the game. I think they [Wigan] were worried - they took the two (from a penalty), we had the ascendancy and were very good.

"Then it was a cascade effect. We got the yellow card, which I wasn't happy with at all, but again with 12 men you have to be better. I wasn't happy with the official James (Vella) in the second half at all.

"We got absolutely nothing - they were lying all over us, and a lot of second efforts which were supposed to have been eradicated."

Wigan coach Matty Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

"It was nice to give lads like Zach Eckersley and Tom Forber an opportunity as they're in their training with the lads the rest of the time and they proved today they're ready to go to Super League level.

"It was an opportunity given the short turnaround going into Salford [on Thursday], to keep the momentum of the squad building and make sure everyone feels a part of what we're doing, and to create competition for places.

"When this club is at its best we have a first team that's flying and a reserve team that is putting pressure on.

"We never like to concede so many points but I understand why we conceded so many tries and we'll learn from it."

London: Leyland, Kershaw, Storey, Bassett, Miloudi, Campagnolo, Meadows, Kennedy, Davis, Rogers, Lovell, Jones, Stock

Interchanges: Butterworth, Butler, Williams, Macani

Wigan: Field, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Eckersley, Hampshire, Farrimond, Thompson, O'Neill, Dupree, Isa, Farrell, Mago

Interchanges: Hill, Nsemba, Chan, Forber

Referee: James Vella.

Around the BBC

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.