A late drop goal by scrum-half Dennis Moran clinched Wigan a tense engage Super League victory over lowly Widnes at the JJB Stadium.

The out-of-sorts Warriors looked in danger of making it four league defeats in a row despite building up a 12-point half-time lead as the Vikings fought back in the second half.

Indeed the scores were tied at 22-22 with just five minutes left before the former London Broncos scrum-half Moran kicked the crucial one-pointer to seal a nerve-wracking win.

Kevin Brown, the returning Brian Carney and Stephen Wild went over in the opening period for Wigan, with Danny Tickle adding another after the break.

The Vikings, now in the middle of a five-game winless run, battled gamely and managed four-pointers through Daniel Frame, Shane Millard, Richie Barnett and Gray Viane.

But despite containing a clutch of former Warriors in their squad of 17, they could not quite prevent their north-west rivals completing the league double over them, with Wigan having recorded a 32-20 victory at the Halton Stadium at the start of March.

The opening exchanges were littered with the kind of handling errors that had characterised both sides' performances of late.

Even the game's first try, which came after six minutes, was a scrappy affair.

Moran's pass appeared to be knocked on by a Wigan player but referee Karl Kirkpatrick waved play on and centre Brown had the simple task of gliding through to down under the posts. Tickle converted.

As if to make amends for the controversial first score, the referee then stopped Terry Newton from strolling over unchallenged when he adjudged - wrongly it seemed - Chris Melling to have passed forward.

Wigan were made to pay as they conceded a try a minute later. The excellent Simon Finnigan managed to break the shackles of two would-be tacklers and he fed second rower Frame to barge over. Stephen Myler converted.

Carney restored the lead for the hosts when Moran kicked ahead for the Irishman, making his first start since injuring his knee against Leigh on March 18, to collect and ground. Tickle converted from the touchline.

Wild, running in from close-range without a Viking in sight, added a third try for the Warriors in the 27th minute.

Widnes' approach play was often a sight to behold but they lacked that all-important penetration near Wigan's line on a raft of occasions as they went into the interval 18-6 down.

But that changed in a storming start to the second half by the Vikings, which saw totemic hooker Millard crash over from three yards for his side's second try of the night.

Myler converted before the deficit was reduced to two points when winger Barnett scrambled after one of many Owen Craigie up-and-unders was knocked on by full-back Melling.

Tickle earned Wigan a reprieve when he dashed 30 yards to just make it over in the right-hand corner but the visitors hit back with 10 minutes left when replacement Sala Fa'alogo deftly flicked out for Viane to dive over.

Myler converted to level the scores at 22-22.

But Moran proved the match-winner as he kicked a drop goal from 15 yards to give the Warriors maximum points.