Image source, SwpixImage caption, Zach Eckersley (far left) scored twice as Wigan had to dig deep to beat Wakefield
ByMatthew CresswellBBC Sport England- Published12 April 2026, 15:11 BST
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Betfred Challenge Cup
Wakefield (16) 22
Tries: Trueman, Rodwell, Johnstone, Scott Goals: Jowitt 3
Wigan (18) 26
Tries: Mago, Marshall, Field, Eckersley 2 Goals: Keighran 3
Wigan Warriors edged out Wakefield Trinity in a Challenge Cup quarter-final thriller at Belle Vue.
Warriors had to overcome a frenetic start from the hosts, who raced into a 12-point lead after a quarter of an hour, rallying to claim a first win in three matches.
Zach Eckersley scored two tries for Wigan, and Patrick Mago, Liam Marshall and Jai Field grabbed one each in a pulsating encounter in West Yorkshire, which also included a number of flare-ups between the two sets of players.
Jake Trueman opened the scoring for Trinity and Ky Rodwell, Tom Johnstone and Cam Scott also crashed over for the hosts, who battled bravely.
The victory means Wigan will play bitter rivals St Helens in the semi-finals, while Hull KR will face Warrington Wolves in a repeat of last year's Wembley final.
An incisive move from Wakefield allowed them to break the deadlock after seven minutes when a lovely line break from Mike McMeeken allowed him to play the perfect inside ball to the supporting Trueman to slide over.
Wigan were on the ropes at that stage and their defence was breached once more six minutes later as Trueman powered forward and fed Rodwell, who managed to dink the ball on the line through three defenders.
The visitors got on the board after 20 minutes, though, when Liam Farrell batted the ball back to Mago to run through unopposed.
And Warriors were level when Marshall cut inside Mason Lino on the left touchline to score in trademark fashion after the Samoan half-back had just prevented a score for the visitors moments earlier.
Wakefield then nudged themselves back in front with arguably the best try of the match when a stunning move to the left ended with wing Johnstone finishing beautifully one-handed in the corner.
Image source, SwpixImage caption, Tom Johnstone scored an outstanding try for Wakefield before half-time
The home side were then dealt a big blow when prop Jazz Tevaga was sent to the bin for a petulant kick-out after he believed he was trapped on the floor by Marshall.
Wigan reaped the rewards of their numerical advantage right on half-time when Field dotted down Harry Smith's kick underneath the sticks, and after Adam Keighran kicked the goal they went into the interval with a slender lead.
The half-time break did not put a pin in the tempo at which the match was played, and Eckersley dotted down on the right wing after getting on the end of another kick by Smith to race through.
But Wakefield were always in the tie and drew level when Scott exploited a gap in Wigan's right edge to touch down behind the posts, and Max Jowitt added the extras to move on to 1,000 points for Trinity in his career.
After a scuffle on halfway, Eckersley got his second of the half, collecting Keighran's excellently fired cut-out pass to dot down what proved to be the winner.
The home side continued to threaten late on, but a superb interception from Junior Nsemba prevented Wakefield's final opportunity of the day.
Wakefield: Jowitt; Pratt, Scott, Hall, Johnstone; Trueman, Lino; McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Vagana, Nikotemo, Pitts.
Interchanges: Tevaga, Hamlin-Uele, Smith, Lolesio.
Sin-bin: Tevaga (36 mins).
Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Eseh, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.
Interchanges: Mago, Partington, McDermott, Hodkinson.
Referee: Liam Moore.
