Wigan showed little sign of wear and tear following the busy Easter schedule as they ran in nine tries against bottom club Celtic Crusaders in their engage Super League clash at the JJB Stadium.

The Crusaders crossed in the second minute when Luke Dyer took advantage of some cavalier defending to touch down in the corner.

But four tries in the first half and five after the break with Sean O'Loughlin, Pat Richards and Sam Tomkins all scoring braces followed to give the Warriors a much-needed win after last weekend's defeats to St Helens and Catalans Dragons.

Wigan were boosted by the return of Gareth Hock and George Carmont after injuries, while Cameron Phelps returned to the starting line-up after missing the defeat to Catalans Dragons with a hamstring problem.

Skipper Jace Van Dijk started for the Crusaders after passing a fitness test on Saturday afternoon and replaced Jordan James who was ill.

The Welsh club, still without a win in the Super League, took a shock lead in the second minute when Phelps allowed a seemingly harmless kick from Van Dijk to run into the in-goal area.

Just as it looked as though the ball was dead, Dyer pounced and touched down in the corner.

Centre Josh Hannay missed the resulting conversion from the touchline with his left-footed effort.

But Wigan responded and within four minutes they levelled after good work from the Warriors pack who drove the ball up field.

The backs worked the ball from right to left and winger Pat Richards, still with plenty to, stepped past one defender and reached over Van Dijk to score.

Richards was off target with the conversion, but the hosts took the lead when loose forward O'Loughlin sliced through the Crusaders defence with a clever grubber.

As he neared the line he scooped the ball from the turf and crashed over the line to score, Richards adding the extras.

Wigan crossed again in the 19th minute when Mark Riddell timed his angled run to perfection and outpaced Crusaders full-back Marshall Chalk before diving over.

Richards converted as Wigan began to dominate proceedings. They enjoyed a lengthy spell in the Crusaders' half and could have scored again when Richards crossed the whitewash following good work from Carmont on the blind side.

But referee Steve Ganson and his linesman ruled the pass to have been forward.

A further score arrived five minutes before the break when fast hands worked the ball wide and Amos Roberts finished a simple passing move. Richards missed the conversion.

With only five second-half minutes on the clock the hosts scored again when Iafeta Paleaaesina broke the Crusaders ranks.

The Wigan prop found Phelps, who in turn beat Dyer before sending substitute Tomkins under the posts.

Five minutes later Wigan crossed again. This time Carmont was the scorer after Tomkins had made a jinking run. The ball was spun wide and Carmont sauntered over for the Warriors' sixth try of the afternoon.

O'Loughlin helped himself to another just shy of the hour mark when his incisive run left the flat-footed Crusaders defence with no chance of stopping him.

Damien Quinn, who became the first player to make 100 competitive appearances for the Celtic Crusaders, was sent to the sin bin and seconds later Richards claimed his second try of the day as Wigan made their numbers count out wide.

Mark Dalle Cort scored a late consolation for the visitors but Wigan hit back with a further score from the impressive Tomkins who cantered under the posts in the closing stages to wrap up the win.