Wigan established a useful interval lead with a dominant first-half performance against Bradford at the JJB Stadium.

The Warriors were booed off the pitch after suffering surprise home defeats by Wakefield and Castleford during their worst start to a league season for 23 years, but they got off the mark at Harlequins a week ago and looked like a side full of confidence tonight.

Coach Brian Noble chose to give local boy Sam Tomkins his first Super League start in place of Australian half-back Tim Smith and the youngster repaid his faith with an impressive first-half display.

Bradford, still looking for their first win of the season, had their moments and they were pressing when Wigan opened the scoring with a superb counter-attacking move sparked by an interception from Phil Bailey.

Full-back Pat Richards finished off the move, taking George Carmont's pass and sprinting unopposed to the line for a 60-metre try which he converted.

Wigan extended their lead after 17 minutes when second-rower Gareth Hock took hooker Mark Riddell's pass from dummy half and slipped all too easily past centre Paul Sykes for a second try, with Richards kicking a second goal.

The Warriors then scrambled superbly to keep their line intact in the face of some severe pressure from the visitors and struck again just before the break when the outstanding Hock sent Carmont over for a third try.

HT: Wigan 18 Bradford 0