Cassidy the classy catalyst for Wigan

Super League
Warrington 18 - 40 Wigan

With cracks appearing in Bradford's armour, Wigan seized the opportunity to push harder for a top-two finish, crushing Warrington with a clinical display of finishing.

Now unbeaten in 12 games, Wigan closed to within a point of the Bulls in second place thanks chiefly to the class of their captain Andy Farrell and scrum-half Adrian Lam and a rousing performance in the second row from Mick Cassidy.

Wigan went for the jugular at the start of the second half with Farrell the orchestrator. The loose-forward popped up a pass for Lam to score in the 42nd minute and then combined with Cassidy to lay on a first senior try for the teenage utility back Shaun Briscoe.

And when Farrell went over on 53 minutes it was all over, even though the Wolves winger Graham Appo claimed a finely worked try to give the home fans hope that their team's undoubted commitment will still see them hang on for Super League survival.

It was Cassidy's spirit of adventure two minutes before half-time that gave the Warriors ample breathing space. He kicked through on the left and then hacked on again to win the race to the touchdown with Julian O'Neill kicking his fourth goal.

Wigan had been shocked at the start, the hosts scoring a second-minute try when Lee Briers' grubber kick set up Sid Domic.

This shook the Warriors and they were surrendering possession too easily until their hooker Terry Newton shrugged off Mark Hilton's half-hearted challenge to cross on 19 minutes.

Wigan then administered two quick follow-up punches with Kris Radlinski notching his 99th try in Super League before Newton finished off smart work by Lam and Farrell to go under the posts for his second touchdown.

Wolves kept in touch when Nathan Wood kept the ball alive, allowing Darren Burns to fire out a long pass for Rob Smyth to go over. Briers was successful with the kick but Cassidy's timely strike tempered home enthusiasm before the Warriors showed their ruthless side after the break.

· Tony Anderson was yesterday confirmed as the new coach of the Halifax Blue Sox on a contract which runs until the end of next season. The Hull captain Jason Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a dislocated elbow.

Warrington Wolves: Penny; Smyth, Domic, Mathers, Appo; Briers, N Wood; Laughton, Clarke, Hilton, Guisset, Marquet, Burns. Subs: Noone, Busby, P Wood, Fozzard.

Wigan Warriors: Radlinski; Connolly, O'Neill, Hodgson, Briscoe; O'Loughlin, Lam; Howard, Newton, C Smith, Cassidy, Furner, Farrell. Subs: Bibey, Tickle, M Smith, Carney.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).