Wigan have a Field day

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors run out winners against Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Super League.
• The Warriors scored six tries, including a hat-trick from Jai Field to take the win.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 34-12 Leeds Rhinos.

Jai Field grabbed a hat-trick with Sam Powell at the double and Liam Farrell completing the win in an enthralling game at the DW Stadium.

Jai Field was unstoppable as he ran in two converted first-half tries to give Wigan a 12-6 lead at the break. A flurry saw Wigan get three tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second forty, Sam Powell went over for a brace as Jai Field completed his hat-trick with a full-length effort.

Liam Farrell rounded off an excellent night on home turf for the Warriors as they registered the 34-12 win.

Report

It was a quiet start at the DW Stadium with Storm Eunice playing it’s part as the wind swirled around the field. Leeds were asking the questions in the opening stages as a testing grubber was collected by Field early on and the Rhinos attempted to cause some trouble.

It was Leeds who broke the deadlock, winning a penalty 20m away from the Wigan goal line, the resulting play saw Blake Austin drop the shoulder to break through the Wigan defence and get the ball down in front of the away following. Aidan Sezer added the extras and Leeds had the 6-0 advantage after 11 minutes.

Wigan had a chance to get on the scoreboard moments later, Cade Cust putting a testing ball through but it was dealt with by Walker at the back. The resulting play saw Liam Tindall race down the right wing, he looked to be away but a crucial tackle one-on-one with Jai Field stopped the man and also forced him into touch.

Jai Field then turned on the attack as he registered Wigan’s first home try of 2022, and his first at the DW Stadium after getting the nod from the video referee. Cust’s pass ended up in the hands of Field who raced under the sticks, converting his own effort to level the scores.

It looked to be all square at half time before a good break by Wigan saw Bateman get a fantastic offload to Field who burst through the line to race under the sticks for a second time and put Wigan in at 12-6 at the break after making it two from two from the tee.

It was an explosive start to the second half as Wigan scored three tries in a ten minute spell to race further ahead. The first effort came from Sam Powell, who ran onto a well-executed grubber from Kai Pearce-Paul to touch down, his effort was converted by Zak Hardaker for 18-6.

The second came from Jai Field who registered his hat-trick in style, collecting close to his own goal line and powering away, almost the length of the field to score. Zak Hardaker notched a great conversion to put Wigan to 24-6.

Sam Powell was in again moments later, going over in the 49th minute after the ball was spilled by Walker on his own goal line for Powell to touch the ball down. The conversion attempt was off target this time but Wigan had a healthy 28-6 lead with half an hour left to play.

Leeds were not disheartened by the early pressure from Wigan and got themselves back on the board in the 60th minute, Blake Austin was wrapped up by the Wigan defence on the line but a quick play saw Prior crash over, converted by Sezer for 28-12.

Wigan didn’t want to stop there and Liam Farrell added to the score sheet in the 73rd minute. Cade Cust looked for a way over but was stopped by the Leeds defence, but an offload away so Farrell ease over, converted by Hardaker for 34-12.

The Warriors were almost in again in the dying minutes, Cust breaking through the line as he edges closer to a try. The half back sent a kick through for Marshall to chase, the winger couldn’t get there and the resulting play saw Liam Tindall sent to the sin bin as Wigan took the spoils.

Match Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Zak Hardaker, Kai Pearce-Paul, Jake Bibby, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Thomas Leuluai, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Kaide Ellis, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Willie Isa.

Interchanges: Patrick Mago, Morgan Smithies, Liam Byrne, Oliver Partington.

Tries: Field (24′, 39′, 47′), Powell (45′, 49′), Farrell (73′)

Goals: Field 2/2 Hardaker 3/4

Leeds Rhinos: Jack Walker, Liam Tindall, Tom Briscoe, Liam Sutcliffe, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Zane Tetevano, Kruise Leeming, Matt Prior, Alex Mellor, Morgan Gannon, Cameron Smith.

Interchanges: Corey Johnson, James Donaldson, Bodene Thompson, Mikolaj Oledzki

Tries: Austin (11′), Prior (60′)

Goals: Sezer 2/2

Sin Bin: Tindall (76′)

Referee: Liam Moore

Attendance: 12,575