Wigan crush Hull KR as club honours late rugby league great Billy Boston

Wigan Warriors delivered a commanding 46-0 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday evening, in a match that doubled as a tribute to club legend Sir Billy Boston, who died this week aged 92.

Boston played 488 games for Wigan, scoring 478 tries, and helped the club win three Challenge Cups and a Championship title. He was a Great Britain international and World Cup winner, and became the first black British player to tour Australia and New Zealand when he joined the Great Britain squad in 1954. Last year he became the first player in rugby league's 130-year history to be knighted.

Wreaths were laid before kick-off and both sets of players joined in singing "Jerusalem" in his honour. Wigan wore "Billy" on the front of their shirts, arranged through their main sponsor.

Match action

Liam Marshall scored a hat-trick, while Jai Field, Zach Eckersley (twice), Adam Keighran and Jake Wardle also crossed for tries. Field's try was the 100th of his career.

It was a difficult night for Hull KR in heavy rain, with a second-half try from Frankie Dearlove ruled out after a strong defensive effort from Bevan French prevented him grounding the ball. The visitors were missing several first-choice players who were either rested or suspended.

The win moves Wigan two points clear of Leeds Rhinos at the top of the table. Hull KR remain sixth, two points ahead of St Helens in the race for the final play-off spot with two regular-season games remaining.