WARRINGTON Wolves’ unbeaten run is over.

The Wire, aiming for a club record 11th straight win in the Super League era, were undone by a Wigan Warriors side that proved stubborn to break down in Magic Weekend’s game three at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

Wigan ran away with things in the closing stages, notching 22 points without reply in the second half, on a ground where Wolves are yet to taste a victory in four attempts.

The legions of primrose and blue supporters who had made the journey deserved better, but this really was more about how well Wigan played to put Super League's form team into the shade of a gloriously sunny day.

Now, after suffering their heaviest defeat of the year, they will have to look towards bouncing back at home to Hull on Friday.

Steve Price’s men held a 4-2 advantage for a spell in the first half but once Wigan got their noses in front again they kept them there.

Two tries in three minutes early in the second half, after The Wire had been mounting the pressure, effectively sealed the game.

Wigan’s defence did the rest, forcing handling mistakes as Wire chased the game.

Sam Tomkins booted Wigan in front with a fifth minute penalty goal after Sita Akauola was punished for a high tackle on Sam Powell 10 metres from The Wire line.

Six minutes later The Wire were presented with a similar option after Wigan were caught offside but skipper Chris Hill elected for his men to pile on the pressure rather than take the two points on offer.

It worked a treat as Kevin Brown, Bryson Goodwin and Tom Lineham combined down the left for Harvey Livett to then take an inside pass and cross with a twist. Goodwin was unable to convert, but The Wire had a 4-2 lead.

The arm wrestle started to go Wigan’s way in terms of possession and territory, aided by a number of penalties.

Eventually, in the 25th minute, a switch of play courtesy of Liam Farrell’s offload and George Williams’ feed allowed Sam Powell to charge beneath the sticks despite a valiant last-ditch tackle attempt from Hill. Tomkins converted for 8-4.

The Cherry and Whites were soon over again on the back of a penalty for a late tackle by Joe Philbin.

In a training ground move, Oliver Gildart proved to be the foil for Williams’ pass to go round the back for Tomkins to cross. He even had time to slip up and regather his feet to touch down, before adding the conversion too as the lead extended to 14-4 after 30 minutes.

Wolves needed a lift before half time and they got it from a couple of penalties piggy-backing them to the Wigan end.

Goodwin was held inches short but a few tackles later Brown’s clever last-tackle kick was angled perfectly for Ratchford to defy the bodies in his path and get the all-important touch. Goodwin improved the score to cut the gap to 14-10.

A second Tomkins penalty success on the stoke of half time gave Wigan a boost going back to the changing rooms.

Livett was held up inches short at the start of the second half as The Wire looked to close the gap and although a repeat set was achieved momentum was lost when the back rower fumbled.

Another chance went begging when Ryan Atkins’ fast catch-and-pass found touch instead of Josh Charnley, who had set up position with a 40-metre break moments earlier.

After all the pressing Wolves fell further behind in the 51st minute when John Bateman took an inside pass from Morgan Escare and evaded the tackles of Ben Westwood and Ratchford on a 20-metre charge. Tomkins’ extras made it 22-10.

Two minutes later Wigan went from one end to the other from an initial loose pass. The ball was kicked along the floor for Liam Marshall to get away down the left flank and although Charnley caught him from behind the winger found Williams in support to finish off. Although Tomkins was wide with the conversion, Wigan were in command.

A Patton and Murdoch-Masilla set move around the ruck led to lost possession as more Wire pressing from a penalty came to nought.

Nothing was coming off for Warrington as they chased the game. Murdoch-Masilla galloped clear but his supporting man Brown stumbled and on the next set Roberts’ pass out of the back door to Charnley went into touch.

Ratchford thought he had his second try of the afternoon with eight minutes remaining but Murdoch-Masila was seen to have caused an obstruction. With that decision, any slim chance of a fightback was gone.

Indeed, Wigan went straight down the other end where Williams’ deft chip kick landed perfectly behind Charnley for Marsall to settle matters with six minutes remaining.

Salt was rubbed into the wounds when Tom Davies cashed in on another Warrington handling mistake 15 metres from their own line in the 77th minute, with Tomkins converting and wrapping up the scoring with a penalty from the last act of the game.

Wigan: Sam Tomkins; Tom Davies, John Bateman, Oliver Gildart, Liam Marshall; George Williams, Sam Powell; Tony Clubb, Tommy Leuluai, Ben Flower, Willie Isa, Liam Farell, Joel Tomkins. Subs: Morgan Escare, Ryan Sutton, Romaine Navarete, Taulima Tautai.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Josh Charnley, Ryan Atkins, Bryson Goodwin, Tom Lineham; Kevin Brown, Tyrone Roberts; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Sita Akauola, Jack Hughes, Harvey Livett, Ben Westwood. Subs: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Joe Philbin, Dec Patton, George King.