The long delayed, and now much anticipated, Round Two clash between the Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards was a special Tuesday night treat as the two sides played their re-scheduled early season fixture which had been postponed when Wigan successfully took part in the World Club Challenge in February.
Wigan were slight favourites with the bookies, and came into the game with a four-point handicap despite losing two of their last three outings, but they were up against a Leigh side who are unbeaten in their last four and who were certain to provide a stern challenge for the defending Champions.
A home win would see the Cherry and Whites two points clear at the top of the table, a win for the Leopards would lift them above the Rhinos and into seventh spot in the table, poised for a shot at the top six should those above them slip up over the closing rounds.
A high hit from Jack Hughes on Kruise Leeming saw the Leigh scrum half sent to the sinbin with just six minutes on the clock. The resulting penalty saw Wigan advance before they were awarded a second penalty and on the fourth tackle Junior Nsemba managed to pick up an awful pass off his boot laces and jink his way to the line to dive over by the upright. Adam Keighran added the conversion for a 6-0 lead to the home side.
Wigan’s second came on sixteen through Jake Wardle after a one-two with Zach Ecklersley down the left wing, Wardle running the ball in for the last twenty metres without a Leigh defender able to get near him. Keighran was wide with the conversion attempt.
Rather than cave in, Leigh started to get a foothold in the game, but an awful defensive effort allowed Keighran to run through the three attempted tackles and go over from twenty-five metres out for the third unanswered Wigan try.
Two minutes from the interval Patrick Mago again ripped open the Leigh defence, went ledt of the uprights and grounded the ball as he slid towards the dead ball line. Keighran banged a third conversion between the sticks for 22-0, it was starting to look like a rout.
The half time roasting reaped rewards with just three minutes on the second half clock. Kai O’Donnell broke down the centre of the field before finding Lachlan Lam in support ten from the line to slide over the line under the tackle. Darnell McIntosh added the conversion.
Wigan struck back on fifty-five as Harvey Hill chased down a Leeming grubber under the sticks and got the necessary downward pressure. Keighran added the extra two and the twenty-two-point lead was back in Wigan’s favour.
A spectacular McIntosh try, grounding one-handed after leaping for the corner, was ruled out by the video referee on sixty-seven after seeing separation between the ball and hand. It was Leigh's last chance at points as the game fizzled out, Wigan playing out the minutes for the points.
Wigan dominated the game, from the first whistle to the final hooter, thanks to some uncharacteristically lacklustre defence from the visitors. The early sin-binning upset the Leopards and they conceded two quick tries while Hughes was off the field and Wigan never looked back, the game more one-sided than had been expected prior to kick off. Wigan go top of the pile while Leigh lost their chance to make ground on their competitors for the playoffs.
Wigan Warriors: Eckersley, Miski, Keighran (T, 4/5 G), Wardle (T), Marshall, Hampshire, Smith, Havard, Leeming, Thompson, Nsemba (T), Farrell, Ellis. Subs: Walters, Mago (T), Dupree, Hill (T). 18th Man: Byrne.
Leigh Leopards: Moylan, McIntosh (1/1 G), Hanley, Leutele, Charnley, Hughes (SB on 6), Lam (T), Trout, Ipape, Mulhern. O’Donnell, Halton, Asiata. Subs: Dwyer, Hardaker, Pene, Davis. 18th Man: Brogan.
Half-Time: 22-0.
Full-Time: 28-6.
Score Progression: (SB), 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 14-0, 16-0, 20-0, 22-0 : HT: 22-4, 22-6, 26-6, 28-6:FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wigan.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
