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Wigan kept up pressure on leaders Warrington Wolves with victory over a depleted, yet spirited Wakefield.

Trinity raced in front with tries from Jacob Miller and Tinirau Arona, but Wigan replied before the break through Jackson Hastings and Bevan French.

The second half was a tight affair, with Trinity shading the chances before Sam Powell went over from close range.

Oliver Gildart and French sealed it for Wigan, while Tom Johnstone's late reply for Wakefield marked his return.

In the end it took the creativity of French and Hastings in particular to unlock the defence, with the former's speed telling as the pace of the game took its toll late on.

Wakefield's opening scores were the result of pressure applied close in, while Wigan cut through the Trinity defence with surgical precision for theirs, with Liam Farrell and Hastings making the killer breaks.

Powell's score was the first of the second-half, and exemplified just how hard the Warriors had to work to find points. The work demanded of them was typified by last-ditch try-saving tackle on Farrell with the game gone.

Despite losing a glut of first-grade professionals, Wakefield boss Chris Chester was able to cobble together a strong line-up, notably including fit-again winger Johnstone.

Chester, without assistant Lee Gilmour in the stands, saw his pack front up to a hugely physical Wigan side, and in Tony Gigot and Miller they had a precision kicking game and a running threat.

While Johnstone made a try-scoring impact on his return, he was denied an earlier score in the corner and Tupou was foiled after a clever tap-back from the winger.

Wigan: French; Bibby, Hardaker, Gildart, Burgess; Hastings, Leuluai; Havard, Powell, Flower, Isa, Farrell, Partington.

Interchanges: Clark, Shorrocks, Smith, Wells.

Wakefield: Walker; Johnstone, Tupou, Lyne, Jones-Bishop; Miller, Gigot; Kopczak, Crowther, Arona, Tanginoa, Pitts, Westerman.

Interchanges: K Wood, Ashurst, Green, Tangata.