Crusaders 16-48 Wigan Warriors

Wigan moved level on points with Warrington and Huddersfield at the top of Super League XVI with a 48-16 victory at bottom club Crusaders.

Wigan scored five tries in the first half, Pat Richards, Josh Charnley, Sam Tomkins, Thomas Leuluai and Brett Finch all going over to make it 30-0.

In the second half, Charnley, Michael McIlorum and Tomkins added to Wigan's total to run up the scoreboard.

Gareth Thomas, Michael Witt and Stuart Reardon went over for Crusaders.

Wigan move up to third but sit behind Warrington and Huddersfield due to their inferior points difference.

Last season's top Super League scorer Richards started the eight-try romp as he leapt highest to take a crosskick to the corner of the Crusaders goal area from Finch to touch down with ease on three minutes.

Tomkins then provided the pass for Charnley to score Wigan's second, before turning try-scorer himself as the visitors ran in three tries in eight minutes, Leuluai also going over.

Finch added a fifth on the stroke of half-time, all of them converted by Richards.

Leuluai's run down the left set up Charnley for his second try three minutes after the break, before former Wales rugby union star Gareth Thomas broke the Crusaders' duck with a try in the corner on 55 minutes.

Wigan immediately replied when McIlorum dashed 25 metres to the line, only for the home side to hit back with further tries from Witt and Reardon.

But Tomkins completed the scoring when he ran in from 30 metres to score for Wigan in the last minute.

Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris:

"I thought we were really soft in the first half and, when you are soft against a team like Wigan, you are going to concede points.

"I thought Wigan as a side, in the first half, were clinical and fantastic. We were ultimately soft and it was like a Rottweiler with a bone. They didn't release it at all.

"We scored points at the back end of the second half but ultimately we were soft and that is why we were behind 30-0 at half-time."

Wigan Warriors coach Michael Maguire:

"I thought our front row were the ones who put their hands up and gave us the hard metres today.

"I'm glad Sam Tomkins is on our team. He works hard week in and week out and the team really enjoy playing in the same side as him. It is great to have him but we have a lot of quality among the team.

"Everyone across the park played well and it was a great team effort."

Crusaders: Schifcofske; Reardon, Martin, Thomas, Tansey; Witt, Hanbury; Bryant, White, Flower, Cahill, Chan, Winternstein.

Replacements: Dudson, O'Hara, Johnson, Sammut, Winternstein.

Wigan: S Tomkins; Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Richards; Finch, Leuluai; Coley, McIlorum, Mossop, Hoffman, Farrell, O'Loughlin.

Replacements: Tuson, Deacon, Lima, Prescott.

Attendance: 5,037

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).