WIGAN enter the break with an eight-point lead after Liam Farrell’s try opened the scoring and the Wolves failed to reply following several wasted opportunities.

Tempers flared in only the second minute as Ben Westwood was grounded by Dominic Crosby and the prop forward felt the Warrington joint captain had led with his elbow.

With 11 minutes played Matty Bowen’s pass found Joe Burgess in space and the Wigan man broke free down the left side, evading the diving tackle of Warrington’s Joel Monaghan.

The winger took Warrington full back Stefan Ratchford out of the game with a pass inside to the supporting Farrell, who crossed for the game’s first try. Matty Smith added the extras.

Wolves’ first statement of intent came after 18 minutes, but that opportunity was wasted as newly introduced substitute Glenn Riley caused an obstruction during Chris Hill’s drive.

Wigan were awarded a penalty when Micky Higham was pulled up for interference after 20 minutes and Warrington’s indiscipline continued when, from the resulting move, they gained another penalty for offside.

From that play, John Bateman thought he had grounded from close range after picking up from dummy half, but Warrington centre Ryan Atkins held the Wigan man up, as confirmed by the video referee.

Moments later Wigan’s leading try scorer Iain Thornley crossed but this was to be the visitors’ second score ruled out in a matter of moments as the winger had received a forward pass from Bowen.

Richie Myler was presented with an opportunity as Wolves approached the Wigan line for the second time in the 24th minute, having collected from dummy half Gareth O’Brien’s pass, but the execution on his grubber kick was poor.

Chris Bridge gained good ground as Wolves looked to restore parity before the break, but another chance was wasted for Tony Smith’s side as James Laithwaite failed to gather Ratchford’s pass, knocking on to give Wigan the put in from the scrum.

Gene Ormsby dropped a high Wigan kick, but referee Phil Bentham had already spotted an obstruction and Smith opted to add two points with the boot from 30 metres to make it 8-0 four minutes from the interval.

A driving tackle from Laithwaite, Bridge and Simon Grix sent Wigan backpedalling only for Bridge to be penalised in the aftermath.