Wolves end Challenge Cup hoodoo

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Former Australia Test winger Matt King scored the first semi-final hat-trick since Wigan winger Brett Dallas did so in 2004 as the Wolves surged into a 32-8 lead after 49 minutes. But the Wolves were forced into a desperate rearguard effort when Wigan responded with three second-half tries that cut the deficit to just six points.

Warrington stand-off Lee Briers, whose extra-time drop goal enabled the Wolves to squeeze through their quarter-final against Hull KR, then came up with another precious one-pointer to calm growing fears before winger Chris Hicks went through a tiring Wigan defence for the clinching try five minutes from the end.

It had all started so promisingly for Wigan with the returning Phil Bailey giving them the lead with a seventh minute try while two goals from Pat Richards took him past 1,000 points for the club and gave them an 8-0 lead.

But, with Michael Monaghan pulling the strings, Tony Smith's men seized control with a three-try burst which saw King force his way over despite the efforts of four defenders, second rower Louis Anderson take advantage of a blunder by Wigan's error-prone winger Amos Roberts and Briers dummy his way over.

Wigan conceded another two tries before half-time as substitute Michael Cooper took Briers' short pass to crash over and Monaghan produced his magic just before the break to gift King his second try.

It got even better for the Warrington faithful when King completed his hat-trick nine minutes into the second half, leaping into the air unopposed to touch down Briers' pinpoint kick to extend his side's lead to 32-8.

Wigan threatened an unlikely fightback when Sam Tomkins re-gathered his own kick to score a try on 55 minutes

And the Warriors, who took full advantage to build pressure on their opponents line, scored tries through Andy Coley, profiting from a superb offload from front-row partner Paul Prescott, and Thomas Leuluai, who twisted and turned out of Richard Mathers' last-ditch tackle, to set up a dramatic finish.

Richards' fifth goal from as many attempts cut the gap to just six points, but Briers added a drop goal and Hicks took advantage of a tiring Wigan defence to add a further converted try.