Round 3: Wakefield secure victory over Harlequins

Harlequins are still without a win after Fijian winger Semi Tadulala?s hat-trick inspired Wakefield to their first success of the new season following a 26-6 victory.

The Wildcats had lost their first two matches to Bradford and Hull, but were always too strong for Quins once Tadulala went over twice in the first 10 minutes.

The flying Fijian took just two minutes to open his account.

Quins had not even handled the ball when quick Wakefield hands down the left gave Tadulala the simple task of finishing from five yards.

Seven minutes later he added his second when he got on the end of David March?s grubber kick to touch down in the same corner.

Quins? New Zealand scrum-half Thomas Leuluai should have reduced the arrears in the 15th minute, but he lost possession with the try line beckoning.

Wakefield stretched their lead in the 27th minute when Tony Clubb dropped the ball two yards from his own line and Sam Obst gleefully accepted the gift.

March slotted over the conversion after missing his first two attempts from the touchline.

Quins ? again without influential skipper Mark McLinden ? improved before the break with returning centre Tyrone Smith and Lee Hopkins being held up on the line.

The Wildcats lost John Whittle early in the second period after he fell awkwardly under a tackle, but Colum Halpenney sealed the win with the fourth try of the afternoon for the visitors.

After another slick passing move, Halpenny was put clear and, despite juggling the ball, he regained his composure to touch down.

March missed his third conversion from the touchline, but Ben Jeffries added a close-range penalty to make it 20-0.

Tadulala completed his haul six minutes from time after David Solomona offloaded in the tackle before Quins finally got on the scoresheet.

Mark Tookey evaded two tackles in the 77th minute and touched down under the posts with Paul Sykes adding the conversion, but it was no more than a consolation.

Wakefield had the final say when Jeffries added a last-gasp penalty.

Harlequins RL: Lucky Luisi, Clubb, Purdham, Sykes, Bradley-Qalilawa, Gafa, Leuluai, Temata, Weisner, Heckenberg, Haumono, Hopkins, Mbu.
Replacements: Williams, Mills, Smith, Tookey.

Wakefield: Halpenny, White, Demetriou, Whittle, Tadulala, Obst, Jeffries, Catic, March, MacGillivray, Solomona, Elima, Betham.
Replacements: Applegarth, Griffin, Korkidas, Saxton

Harlequins RL: (0) 6
Tries:Tookey
Goals: Sykes

Wakefield: (14) 26
Tries: Tadulala (3), Obst, Halpenny
Goals: March, Jeffries (2)

Referee: I Smith (Oldham)

Att: 3,554