Rugby

The prolific Pat Richards equalled the Engage Super League scoring record as Wigan Warriors turned on the style to celebrate their first trophy success for eight years.

The goalkicking winger had a rare off day with the boot, succeeding with just three of his seven attempts, but grabbed two tries to reach the 14 points he needed to match the record of 388 set by former Wigan captain Andy Farrell in 2001.

His 34th-minute touchdown enabled him to overhaul Kris Radlinski's Super League club record of 28 tries in a season and his second early in the second half took him to third in the overall Super League list behind Lesley Vainikolo (Bradford Bulls) and Danny McGuire (Leeds Rhinos).

Richards' exploits were witnessed by a 17,058 crowd at the DW Stadium, taking Wigan past the 200,000 mark for the season and enabling them to overtake Leeds as the best supported club in the league, and set the scene for the presentation of the League Leaders' Shield.

Sam Tomkins, revelling once more in his roving role at full-back, caused most of the early problems for Bradford and jinked his way over for what appeared to be a trademark try, only for referee James Child to disallow the score for an obstruction.

However, Wigan's early pressure paid off after 16 minutes when second-rower Liam Farrell spun out of a tackle and created the space for centre George Carmont to go over for the game's first touchdown, before Richards opened his account for the night.

Bradford were determined not to roll over and hardly resembled a team that had won just one of their last 13 matches, with half-backs Brett Kearney and Heath L'Estrange probing to great effect in the early stages.

But the Bulls could not match the cutting edge of the table-toppers, who scored a second try after 27 minutes when a charge from hooker Mark Riddell created the position for replacement prop Iafeta Paleaaesina to romp over for a popular score.

Riddell and Paleaaesina are leaving the club at the end of the season and both looked keen to bow out on a high.

There was an even more popular score seven minutes before the break when skipper Sean O'Loughlin's long pass found Richards unmarked and he sailed over.

The Ireland international saw his conversion attempt bounce back off an upright and he was also off target when second-rower Joel Tomkins grabbed Wigan's fourth try two minutes from the interval courtesy of a solo charge for the line.

There was no keeping Richards out of the action as he struck for a second try just 60 seconds after the restart, collecting Paul Deacon's precision chip to the corner and juggling with the ball before planting it over the line.

Richards could have had a hat-trick after 50 minutes after being sent clear by Carmont, but he unselfishly passed inside to the supporting Farrell, only to see the second-rower drop the ball.

It was symptomatic of a slipshod performance by the Warriors in the second half which will cause a touch of concern for coach Michael Maguire as his side prepare for the play-offs.

At least they continued to create chances and right winger Darrell Goulding took Thomas Leuluai's cut-out pass on 68 minutes to score his side's sixth try. Richards added the conversion to equal Farrell's record.

Battling Bradford pulled a try back six minutes from the end through Craig Kopczak, goaled by Paul Sykes, but Richards had one more chance to break the record when Goulding went over for his second of the night and his 25th of the season.

The crowd went silent as Richards lined up the conversion but it went agonisingly wide of the target to leave him sharing the record.

Bulls skipper Andy Lynch grabbed a consolation try when Steve Menzies was given the opportunity to mark his final appearance for the club with the goal and he duly obliged.