Pat Richards enjoyed a record 30-point haul as Wigan Warriors demolished London Broncos 70-0 on Saturday to book their place in the Challenge Cup rugby league final.
Richards, who will return to the NRL’s Wests Tigers next season after eight years in Europe, crossed for two tries and kicked 11 goals as Wigan, from English rugby league’s north-west heartland, ran riot in a semi-final that will do little to promote the 13-man code as a national game in Britain.
Wigan returned Sam Tomkins, Sean O’Loughlin and Auckland-born Harrison Hansen to their starting line-up, having rested the trio in the Super League defeat by arch-rivals St Helens.
For the Londoners, Jamie Soward slotted in at scrum-half after sitting out the loss at Widnes a week ago.
Wigan had trounced the Broncos 64-6 and 48-18 in their two Super League meetings this season and entered Saturday’s semi-final as overwhelming favourites.
Even more so considering it was the Warriors’ 45th appearance at this stage of the competition, while the men from the British capital were making just their third semi-final, their first since 1999.
The course of the match was set in the 11th minute when Darrell Goulding ghosted through a huge gap in the Broncos defence.
Richards then missed a long-range penalty before Wigan breached the Broncos’ defence for the second time midway through the first half, Matt Smith teeing up Lee Mossop to crash over from close range.
Tomkins danced through just three minutes later.
A fourth try came in the 28th minute, Australian Blake Green pouncing after Smith’s kick through rebounded off the post.
Tries from Richards and Josh Charnley made for a 34-0 lead at the break and Scott Taylor muscled over to push Wigan to the 40-point mark in the 49th minute.
By now it was simply a case of how many, Smith next on the scoresheet and Richards then adding his second in the corner after a stunning flick pass from O’Loughlin as Wigan went 52-0 ahead.
Richards then turned provider, offloading for Liam Farrell to bustle over when he could easily have scored himself.
Iain Thornley added the 11th try when he broke through another huge gap and Charnley crossed for his second six minutes from time.
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