Richards inspires Warriors victory

Pat Richards claimed a stunning five-try haul as leaders Wigan destroyed woeful Catalans 58-0 to maintain their 100% start to the Engage Super League season.

The rangy wing touched down in the ninth, 15th, 20th, 37th and 75th minutes as the rampant Warriors sealed their fourth successive win in remarkable fashion.

Loose forward Sean O'Loughlin and wing Darrell Goulding also went over in the first half before Thomas Leuluai and George Carmont (two) got in on the act after the break.

Richards converted all but one of his side's 10 tries in a personal 38-point haul which further fuelled the feelgood factor engulfing the famous old club right now.

Veteran hooker Keiron Cunningham celebrated his 500th match with a trademark try in a 22-16 victory which helped lift St Helens to third in the table.

The 33-year-old Cunningham, whose landmark appearance was delayed by three weeks following the sudden death of his mother Annie, entered the field with his side trailing 12-0 but his 60th-minute score put them in front for the first time and changed the momentum of the match.

Wakefield were on course to repeat last year's victory at Knowsley Road when they hit their hosts with two tries in three minutes early in the game but Saints found their rhythm to condemn them to their first defeat of the season.

Meanwhile, Steve Menzies claimed the only try as Bradford made heavy weather of winless Salford in a dreadful contest at The Willows. The Australian forward's 24th-minute touchdown proved enough for a second successive Bulls victory but the manner of their performance was again unimpressive.

Elsewhere, Hull proved they are capable of winning without playmaker Sean Long as they returned to winning ways with a 28-4 victory against a dismal Harlequins side at a freezing and rain-soaked KC Stadium.

Tries for the hosts came from Craig Fitzgibbon, Kirk Yeaman, Craig Hall, Danny Tickle and Richard Horne, while Tony Clubb grabbed the London club's only try of the night.