Wigan Warriors ruthlessly destroy Hull KR in one-sided Challenge Cup semi-final

Wardle crossed as early as the fourth minute, but no one could have predicted the carnage he would create. Peet’s side did a great job of keeping Mikey Lewis busy, with the giant Nsemba in the second row continually running at England’s tiny scrum-half. After one of the teenage striker’s charging runs, Bevan French flicked a wonderful chip over Ryan Hall’s head for Miski to score on 15 minutes.

Lewis tried to respond with a chip and chase of his own, but the ball died an agonizing death. And with his side making unforced errors galore, they were unable to create pressure. Nsemba grabbed Wigan’s third try from England scrum-half Smith’s short pass after Niall Evalds had parried Smith’s high kick. Ryan Hall almost responded for Rovers but the veteran England winger couldn’t quite get to the ground after Adam Keighran, Miski and the ever-dangerous defender Field applied enough pressure in the corner.

Embarrassed, Joe Burgess inexplicably fumbled Wardle’s header to give Miski his second try in the 34th minute. And on the restart, Burgess and KR’s right-back defense disappeared to allow Liam Marshall to run clear and pad down the field for Smith to score himself. Rovers were lucky, Smith only managed one of his initial four conversion attempts, Keighran taking over to make it 24-0 at half-time.

Keighran then scored a penalty to extend Wigan’s lead. But Rovers at least avoided being written off when an audacious pass from Lewis saw Burgess cross on 50 minutes. But Hall and Lewis left the restart to each other – and it was back into touch, summing up Rovers’ dismal day.

Even more embarrassing was the goal line defense when Dupree got pushed. Former Leeds striker Sam Walters has arrived for his long-awaited Wigan debut. He came off his winter move from Headingley with a broken collarbone. Rovers center Tom Opacic was sin-binned for tackling Keighran, who also saw yellow during a tackle in the 64th minute.

But it didn’t stop Wigan who saw Wardle get his second after Field again left Miski clear, Smith rounding things off with his last goal in front of a crowd of 11,163.

* Holders St Helens reached a fourth successive Women’s Challenge Cup final with a 32-2 defeat of York and will face the winners of today’s semi-final between Leeds and Wigan.