Lam takes charge to extend Broncos' wretched home run

London 12 Wigan 28

A Virtuoso display from Adrian Lam ensured that a week full of rumours about the future of their coach, Stuart Raper, ended with a Wigan victory.

Lam scored a brilliant try and created two more to leave London still without a win at Griffin Park since last September, although this was a match in which they had a wealth of opportunities to end their dismal home record.

The Broncos should have taken the lead within the first two minutes after Russell Bawden broke through, but Tony Martin's pass to Chris Thorman was forward.

There was no doubt about the try that did put them ahead two minutes later, however. Jim Dymock's clever distribution was again to the fore with the Broncos' captain running from dummy half and picking out Paul Sykes. His power took him through an ineffective two-man tackle from Sean O'Loughlin and David Hodgson, and Wigan could consider themselves fortunate to be only four points behind when Thorman missed the conversion.

Andy Farrell's penalty reduced the arrears before Wigan produced their one really penetrative move of the half, Terry Newton's run and pass releasing Lam whose sparkling footwork and acceleration took him through the defence for a try which Farrell converted.

An exchange of penalties from Thorman and Farrell kept the gap between the teams steady until Dymock continued his masterclass with another superb pass, this time to Bill Peden, who exploited the gap left by Martin Aspinwall dashing out of Wigan's defensive line to make his way over the try line.

Thorman's second goal put the Broncos back in the lead, which was where, on the balance of play at half-time, the home side just about deserved to be.

London had a good chance to increase their advantage at the start of the second half but they threw it all away with a careless forward pass from Thorman to Bawden.

Straight from that surrender of possession, Lam took the game by the throat, first manufacturing a try for Shaun Briscoe with a beautifully judged kick near the line and then sending Aspinwall over with another sparkling run and perfectly timed pass.

With Farrell kicking both goals, Wigan were ten points ahead and London's heads began to go down.

The Broncos roused themselves for a big effort but could not get over the Wigan line and, after several near-misses, Hodgson's try from Farrell's kick made sure of the points with five minutes to play.

London: Roy, Sykes, Jackson, Martin, King, Purdham, Chorman, Marshall, Cudworth, Retchless, Bawden, Peden, Dymock. Substitutes used: Moran, Stephenson, Kennedy, Gallagher.

Wigan: Briscoe, Carney, Aspinwall, O'Loughlin, Hodgson, Graham, Lam, O'Connor, Newton, C Smith, Cassidy, Tickle, Farrell. Substitutes used: Robinson, Hock, Brown, Pongia.

Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington).