MARTIN OFFIAH scored six tries as Wigan sank Bath in a deluge of points in last night's first cross code challenge at Maine Road.
It was the mismatch most thought it would be, rugby league's champions being simply too pacey and powerful at their own game for the English rugby union kingpins.
Offiah, the former Rosslyn Park union winger, led the 16 try rout with a magnificent hat trick in each half in front of an appreciative crowd of just over 20,000.
Wigan totally dominated the first half and looked on course for a century of points as they led 52-0 at the break, but, to their immense credit, Bath provided some resistance in the second half.
England international Jonathan Callard raised the biggest cheer of the night when he darted over from close range to score Bath's only try in the 48th minute.
Shell shocked Bath will be desperate to restore some pride when the teams meet again, this time under union rules, at Twickenham on May 25th.
Offiah got the first try after just three minutes. He nipped in for another in the seventh minute, with stand off Henry Paul and winger Jason Robinson also skipping through woeful defending to score further tries. Andy Farrell added both goals before he was substituted.
Try number five arrived in the 17th minute courtesy of Wigan prop Terry O'Connor, with hooker Martin Hall tagging on the conversion to make it 300 with only 20 minutes gone.
Bath, who had conceded a penalty from the kick off at the start of the game, had just one real excursion into the Wigan half during the opening quarter.
It was virtually all Wigan and two tries in four minutes through substitutes Andy Johnson and Scott Quinnell plus another Hall goal made it 40-0.
Stand off Mike Catt missed a 25 yard drop goal attempt on the half and then, three minutes later, loose forward Andy Robinson dropped the ball from Catt's pass a few yards from the Wigan line.
But Wigan had still not finished with their shell shocked opponents in the opening period and substitute Craig Murdock got their eighth try in the 37th minute, Hall converting.
Then, right on the stroke of half time, Offiah notched Wigan's ninth try to complete his hat trick and bring up the half century. Hall added the goal.
It did not surprise anyone that Wigan scored first after the restart, nor that it took only two minutes as O'Connor charged over for his second try.
But then came the shock a Bath try to the delight of the crowd as Callard darted over from five yards out in the 48th minute. He also converted.
However, it was soon business as usual as Wigan resumed the slaughter when second row forward Mick Cassidy took advantage of an overstretched Bath defence to touch down.
Offiah then grabbed his fourth try, but only after Castleford referee Russell Smith had asked for a ruling from the video replay judge, making it 64-6 with the game into the final quarter.
Offiah went in for a fifth four minutes later again after a pause while the extra official studied the video.
Then substitute Johnson and winger Robinson both touched down again, before Offiah fittingly rounded things off with his sixth try right at the death after a pinpoint kick to the line by Wigan skipper Shaun Edwards.
Afterwards Edwards paid tribute to Bath's fighting spirit despite a first half pummelling. "Their lads never gave in and you have to give them credit," he said. "Lots of teams would have put their heads down after that first hall, but full credit to them.
"In the second half we got a little bit fancy, but that's understandable in the circumstances."
Bath are eager for the rematch, although fly half Mike Catt believes the result will be less one sided. "They've probably got a better chance of getting closer to us than we had to them," he said. "It's going to be tough, as it was tonight, but it was an amazing atmosphere and it was great playing in it.
Bath captain Phil de Glanville was full of admiration for the rugby league champions' skills. "They're a fantastic side," he said. "They're so hard to stop with their lines of running, in particular in the pack. They come on at pace.
