Four tries in the space of 10 minutes either side of half-time helped Wigan to a morale-boosting 38-20 victory over Harlequins at the JJB Stadium.

With much of the attention in the rugby league world focused on Toulouse, where England were playing France, the Warriors trailed 16-6 before Pat Richards and Joel Tomkins added to Mickey Higham's early touchdown to edge them in front at half-time.

Quins were good value for their 10-point lead thanks to tries from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Joe Mbu and Tony Clubb, but were unable to find a response and Wigan ran in further tries in the second half from Gareth Hock, Darrell Goulding (2) and Thomas Leuluai, before Clubb added a second of his own with five minutes remaining.

The Warriors started aggressively after the disappointment of last weekend's draw at Castleford and, after determined charges from Andy Coley, Stuart Fielden and Hock, took the lead with only four minutes on the clock.

After a short kick from Trent Barrett forced a repeat set, Coley was halted inches from the visitors' line, only for Higham to burrow over from dummy half.

Richards added the goal, but the home side were unable to make their territorial superiority tell, and the visitors levelled the scores after 17 minutes with virtually their first attack.

McCarthy-Scarsbrook came on to replace Danny Ward and, seconds after being smashed by Fielden with his first touch, took a lovely pass from hooker Chad Randall to cross by the side of the posts, with Wigan old boy Paul converting.

And Harlequins took the lead three minutes later when Scott Hill drew the line of defence and slipped a neat kick behind them for Mbu to score down the right-hand flank.

Wigan tried to respond but the Quins defence was proving difficult to break down, and the Londoners extended their advantage seven minutes before the interval through Clubb.

An uncharacteristic mistake from Richards gave Harlequins a scrum in the Warriors 20-metre zone, and Clubb barged through an attempted tackle from Harrison Hansen to score his side's third try.

Paul's conversion from way out right made it 16-6, but Richards made amends three minutes later when he followed a grubber kick from Leuluai and touched it down by the posts, and his conversion reduced the arrears to just four points.

Warriors then took the lead right on half-time when, after Leuluai had broken through but had been chased down by full-back Chris Melling, the ball was switched towards the right wing.

With the hooter sounding, Barrett's kick was collected by Goulding, and his pass inside bounced kindly for Tomkins to score by the corner flag, with the boot of Richards edging Wigan in front.

Quins will have felt a little aggrieved to have trailed at the break and their mood was not improved when they conceded two more tries in the first five minutes of the second half.

Mbu spilled the ball direct from the kick-off and, after Eamon O'Carroll managed to offload in a three-man tackle, Cameron Phelps, Leuluai and Iafeta Paleaaesina combined to send Hock over.

Richards converted, but was off target three minutes later after a beautiful cut-out ball from Barrett sent Goulding in at the corner.

There was then a lengthy stoppage after home debutant Phelps suffered a worrying-looking injury whilst attempting to tackle Jon Grayshon, and the Australian was stretchered off in a neck brace after receiving oxygen on the field.

Wigan did not let it affect their rhythm, though, and Higham - back on for Phelps - immediately broke down the middle to send Leuluai over under the posts, with Richards' fifth goal a formality.

With the game looking beyond them at 16-34, Quins were then denied a consolation when Michael Worrincy saw a try ruled out by the video referee for the illegal use of a dummy runner.

There was further good news for Wigan when news filtered through that Phelps had recovered sufficiently to sit up in the home dressing room.

And there was still time for Goulding to grab his second try with a scrappy effort late on, before Clubb grabbed his second in the dying stages from a 90-metre interception despite Mark Calderwood's valiant chase.