Bradford 10-44 Wigan

Bradford (0) 10
Tries: Whitehead, Ah Van
Goals: Ah Van
Wigan (26) 44
Tries: Roberts 2, Hansen, Leuluai, Farrell, Goulding, Carmont, S Tomkins
Goals: Deacon 6

Wigan's players celebrate the first of Amos Roberts' two tries at Odsal

Super League champions Wigan warmed up for next weekend's World Club Challenge with a comprehensive win at Odsal.

Fit-again winger Amos Roberts scored two of Wigan's eight tries on his first start since last June.

Harrison Hansen and George Carmont were again among the scorers, while Thomas Leuluai, Liam Farrell, Darrell Goulding and Sam Tomkins also crossed the line.

Bradford, 26-0 down at the break, came back in the second half with tries for Elliott Whitehead and Patrick Ah Van.

Bulls old boy Paul Deacon landed six of Wigan's eight conversion attempts on his return to familiar soil - for a game on a soaking, wet surface that survived a morning pitch inspection.

Roberts, who missed much of last season with a knee injury, missed the opening day Magic Weekend draw with St Helens last Saturday night to attend the birth of his son.

But, after being recalled in place of youngster Josh Charnley, he bounced in impressive fashion to fire a warning to his old St George Illawarra team-mates - ahead of next Sunday night's DW Stadium clash (27 February, 1915 GMT).

Roberts took just 10 minutes to mark his return for his first try since last June, adding a second after the break to snuff out a brief Bradford fightback.

There is a gap and Wigan are at the top of the pile. They are a good team and came up with some fantastic plays Bradford coach Mick Potter

The Bulls, beaten cruelly in the last-minute by local rivals Leeds last Sunday after letting slip a 28-12 lead at the Millennium Stadium in the final quarter, were without scrum-half Kyle Briggs and loose forward Jamie Langley.

And, with new signing Marc Herbert still sidelined, they had eight players making their home debut as new coach Mick Potter also took his Odsal bow.

Potter's last meeting with Wigan was at Old Trafford in the Grand Final in October when his St Helens side were beaten by the Cherry and Whites.

In contrast, Bradford's performance in last season's corresponding fixture was a lot more memorable, coming from 20-0 down at half-time to sensationally win 22-20.

But, despite memories of last season's stunning second-half fightback, this time the contest really did look over by half-time when Wigan ran in five tries to lead 26-0.

And the Bulls could only respond with tries from Whitehead and Ah Van, who landed the first of his two conversion attempts.

Nevertheless, they highlighted an improved performance after the break which showed enough spirit and determination to suggest that Potter's men could yet challenge for a play-off spot.

Wigan lost centre Martin Gleeson with a hamstring injury after 26 minutes but coach Michael Maguire expects him to line up against the Dragons next Sunday night.

---

Bradford coach Mick Potter:
"The score probably didn't reflect the toughness of it.

"There is a gap and Wigan are at the top of the pile. They are a good team and came up with some fantastic plays.

"We need to be better than that but we can improve. We make a bundle of errors, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We have got to be a bit more resilient with the ball."

Wigan coach Michael Maguire:
"It was very pleasing, especially after last week. It was good to see the boys doing what they are capable of doing. We will get a lot of confidence out of that.

"To see Amos Roberts run around the way he did was very positive for the team. It was good to see him back.

"Martin Gleeson could feel it tightening up so it was largely precautionary. From what I've been told by the doctor, it looks like it's pretty good news."

---

Bradford: Royston; Ah Van, Platt, Walker, Raynor; Sykes, Kearney; Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch, Elima, Whitehead, Hargreaves.
Replacements: Kopczak, Diskin, Olbison, Sibbit.

Wigan: S Tomkins; Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Roberts; Deacon, Leuluai; Prescott, McIlorum, Fielden, Hoffman, Hansen, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Farrell, Mossop, Coley, J Tomkins.

Attendance: 15,348.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).