Tomkins leads Warriors to victory

The 20-year-old finished a superb counter-attack to hand the Warriors a fourth try and kill off the challenge of champions Leeds in a pulsating game at the newly-renamed DW Stadium.

The Warriors had fallen 10-0 behind in the first half after Leeds tries from Danny McGuire and Scott Donald. George Carmont began the recovery before the break while Harrison Hansen and Joel Tomkins also touched down to hand Brian Noble's men a fifth successive win. Pat Richards added six goals as the Warriors moved within a point of fourth place and denied Leeds the chance to reclaim top spot.

Wigan responded well but a good move broke down when Martin Gleeson passed into touch looking for Roberts out wide. Richards was unable to gather a high kick as Wigan threatened again but Leeds, driven by influential scrum-half Rob Burrow, eventually opened the scoring after 20 minutes.

Mark Riddell first pierced the line before Burrow sent half-back partner McGuire through to the line.

Leeds then hit a purple patch and youngster Mike Ratu was hauled down by Cameron Phelps before setting up Donald for a second in the corner moments later. Yet Wigan were undaunted and began to respond four minutes before half-time as Carmont cut inside from a Phelps pass to score a fine try.

The hosts carried the momentum into the second half and claimed the lead within three minutes of the restart as Hansen pounced to finish a fine move that looked to have broken down. Sam Tomkins set up Carmont with a clever flick but the centre's poor pass to Thomas Leuluai appeared to have cost Wigan a try as the ball ran away off the scrum-half's feet.

Hansen, however, was determined to chase an apparent lost cause and dived on the loose ball to score just inside the dead-ball line. Wigan were awarded a penalty after a scuffle broke out close to the Leeds line and play was quickly spread across the field for Joel Tomkins to touch down.

Leeds' hopes took a knock with 13 minutes remaining as hooker Danny Buderus was carried off on a stretcher after a collision with Andy Coley.

Wigan then put the game beyond doubt as Richards broke from inside his own half and Leuluai then took up the attack to send Sam Tomkins over by the posts. Richards converted and added two more penalties to send the majority of the bumper crowd home happy and hungry for more against rivals St Helens next week.