Both sides had edgy starts with a mix of knock-ons disrupting the flow and meaning not a single set was completed until the tenth minute when Catalan used up all five tackles and kicked to the corner only to have Charnley collect. The winger's take from the kick began two good sets for the Warriors that ended with the opening try coming for Wigan after a quick play from Williams to Clubb crossing for a try under the posts. Smith converted well for 0-6.
Wigan could have gone further in front just four minutes later but a strong Catalan defence forced Burgess into touch with the Dragons using the resulting possession to great effect as a superb run from Escaré saw him cross for a try. Child elected to go to the screen and after a quick review the try was awarded but a tough kick for Williams saw him fail to convert meaning a 4-6 score.
Wigan blew the chance to increase their lead in the 19th minute when a nice passage of play saw O'Loughlin rush his pass and find touch rather than a team-mate while in a good position and Catalan were able to take advantage of the error as a kick from Pryce was eventually collected by Whitehead who went on to score a try. Williams converted well to put the Dragons ahead at 10-6.
However, their lead lasted just four minutes as a mazy run from Bowen saw him outfox the Dragons defence and cross for a well-worked try with Smith converting or a second time to regain the lead at 10-12 but Wigan powered on and went into the interval clearly in control after two tries in three minutes.
A nice set of passes saw Gelling look odds-on to score but a kind offload allowed Charnley to cross unmarked and continue his fine scoring spree with Smith converting for 10-18 before Bowen and Charnley exchanged passes with the former crossing the Dragons line for his second effort of the evening and Smith kept up his kicking record for a 10-24 half-time lead.
Traditionally, a side losing at half-time receives the 'come out fighting and strong' rallying call but Catalan seemed to take it literally as just two minutes into the second period, Duport looked to strangle Charnley in the tackle and was yellow carded and sent to the sin-bin with a minor brawl between the sides forming in the following set.
Four successive penalties were awarded to Wigan as Catalan were just going too far in the tackles and of course that meant a team warning for the Dragons but it seemed to be ignored as a shot from Garcia on Powell saw the Dragons now down to 11 mean after his sin-binning.
Wigan used the two man advantage instantly as Taylor crossed for a try through the open Dragons defence and Smith converted for a 20 point lead at 10-30. The next set saw the Warriors stretch their lead as Sarginson picked out Burgess with the young Winger crossing the Catalan line with ease and Smith added a sixth conversion for 10-36.
Wigan looked to have reached the 40 point mark when Williams put in a dangerous kick and Gelling looked to have collected and touched down for the try but after a review the effort was denied. The two man advantage came to end as the two sin-binned Dragons returned but the damage had been done as Wigan had a 26 point lead.
A frantic few minutes around the hour mark saw two of the stars of the game injured with Burgess suffered a bloody knee in a tackle and in the next set a fumble from Escaré saw him tackled hard by a committed Clubb but in a challenge that saw the full back come off badly.
Catalan's attacking prowess had grown since they were back to the full complement and it may have been strange when 26 points ahead but Smith sent a superb drop goal through the posts for 10-37 with just ten minutes remaining.
Catalan did have the final say on the result after a quick pass from a scrum allowed Escaré to pick out Cardace on the wing to cross for a try to reduce the deficit and Williams converted for a second time to make the final score 16-37.
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