Wigan miss the point

Wigan and Quins remain in the bottom half of the table with three games left and visiting coach Brian Noble said: "We went for a drop goal too early. But that's what pressure does to you and Quins were awarded a try when everyone in the ground must have seen a knock-on."

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Quins coach Brian McDermott shared Noble's frustration but because the impressive McLinden had a try disallowed for a dubious "obstruction" in the second half.

McDermott said: "It is the way the referees are being coached.My players should not be having to ask me what they have to do to score."

There is another unanswered question, about Wigan's future — whether Quins chairman Ian Lenagan, a native of the Lancashire town, has a genuine interest in buying the club from Dave Whelan. He has neither denied nor confirmed that he is heading one of the consortiums linked with a buy-out now Whelan has intimated that he is prepared to sell at the end of the season.

Right now both power brokers are more concerned with the play-offs.

Wigan's £450,000 Great Britain Test enforcer Stuart Fielden started on the bench for the second consecutive week, entering the fray after 15 minutes, just after Quins second rower Matt Gafa had given his team a 4-2 lead after a superb break by McLinden.

Almost immediately,Scott Hill scored a controversial second try with Wigan believing Chad Randall had knocked on.

Halfbacks Danny Orr and Thomas Leuluai swapped clubs in the winter and were involved in the next score, Leuluai collecting a ricochet from an Orr kick to race to the line.

Then Orr sent McLinden in for Quins third touchdown and they led 16-8 at the interval.

Wigan upped the tempo and a fine solo Trent Barrett effort narrowed the gap to four points after 45 minutes.

Barrett levelled the scores with another spectacular solo try but, with Richards unable to convert either, we were left with a drop-goal competition.