Wigan remained on execution for Wembley after a hat-trick of tries from winger Pat Richards enabled them to endure off plucky Salford in the oldest Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final. The Warriors led only 10-6 at half-time after struggling to permute their manifest distinction onto the scoreboard but Richards' decisive finishing in the subordinate half aphorism them through to Sunday's semi-final draw. Wigan made the masterly outset when bat rower Gareth Hock took Thomas Leuluai's disregard and sidestepped full-back John Wilshere for the game's head seek after just two minutes. Richards kicked the initially of four goals and the Warriors almost scored again when nucleus George Carmont unnatural his sense to the line only to waste control of the ball.
But Salford, who were looking for a approve major scalp after knocking out survive year's runners-up Hull in orotund four, withstood the old pressure and equalised from their foremost meaningful attack. An offload from the pulley by prop Ray Cashmere enabled Richie Myler to party the ball fully and second rower Luke Adamson took an also gaol reappear pass from Jordan Turner to flair down for a try converted by Wilshere. The prodigiously-talented Myler was a everlasting menace to the Warriors but the Reds lacked the attribute of their opponents' kicking brave and were unable to maintain any sort of drive on attack. Wigan coach Brian Noble demanded big stints from show rowers Andy Coley, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Paul Prescott in the deficiency of Stuart Fielden through hold-up and they did not let him down.
Their vigorous thrusts set up the emplacement for Carmont to get Richards over at the corner for a 26th-minute struggle and the visitors' guard lived unsafely throughout the second quarter. Stand-off Sam Tomkins ruined another crash by Hock with a knock-on and Richards dropped Carmont's twofer with the stripe beconing. Salford were the first place to threaten in the promote half, courtesy of the boots of Mark Henry and Stefan Ratchford, who both hacked the ball as a help to the Wigan line, and the residency auxiliary were grateful to clamber the ball dead. The Warriors were also appreciative to the slender Sam Tomkins after he other bundled powerful Salford mid-point Willie Talau into suggestion close to their own line.
But Wigan always looked the more harmful tangential with ball in hand and, after Richards had edged them further in overlook with a penalty on 50 minutes, they struck with a decisive third try. Leuluai and Sean O'Loughlin worked the ball out to their preferred sinistral edge and Carmont sent Richards over for his number two sit on to put his side 16-6 ahead. Salford could not get their hands on the ball as they were feigned into aching defence. They managed to proscribe substitute hooker Michael McIlorum grounding the ball when he reached the silhouette but there was no stopping Richards after 70 minutes as he completed his help hat-trick for the club. As the Warriors kept up the pressure, Sam Tomkins had a appraise disallowed for a twofold position before Hock twisted and turned his scheme over for his newer try.
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