Academy lose to Leeds

• A thrilling game saw the Warriors Academy side fall foul to a late drop goal from Leeds.
• Wood, Fitzgerald, Sumner and Kilner-Douglas all on the scoresheet for Wigan.
• FT | Leeds Rhinos 23-22 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors Academy were handed defeat by Leeds Rhinos with a late Jack Sinfield drop goal proving the difference in a tough game at Headingley Stadium.

The Warriors had the better of the first half as they ran in tries through Max Wood, Ethan Fitzgerald and Reagan Sumner, all converted by Billy Myers for an 18-12 advantage at the break.

Wigan extended their lead after the restart as Jacob Kilner-Douglas made it 22-12 but two tries and a penalty goal got the hosts back level. Jack Sinfield added a drop goal 5 minutes from time which proved to be the difference as Leeds took the two-points.

Report

Wigan were on top in the opening exchanges and they took the opportunities as they ran up an 18-0 scoreline in the opening 15 minutes.

The Warriors asked the questions early as a good kick chase forced a goal line drop out to give Wigan the ball back, before Leeds knocked on close to their own goal line. The head and feed saw Hill power forward and go close before a step by Myers almost got the better of Leeds, Max Wood did carve open the defence though as a flat pass saw him crash under the sticks for the opener, converted by Myers for 6-0.

More errors from Leeds from the restart allowed Wigan a penalty to take them deeper into Rhinos territory, the Cherry & Whites tried to go right but it was the left edge that got the joy as the ball went through hands right to Ethan Fitzgerald on the wing to go over, converted once more by Myers to see Wigan at 12-0.

Reagan Sumner’s fine effort in the 13th minute made it 18-0. Wigan shipped the ball right to create an overlap and Sumner raced away to score in the far corner, as Myers added his third conversion of the evening.

Leeds soon caught Wigan napping as Kai Morgan got an intercept to race 60-meters down field and get one back for the Rhinos, converted by Sinfield before a knock on from Wigan on the half hour mark allowed Sinfield and Edgell to combine to send Riley Lumb over. Sinfield added a second conversion to reduce the score to 18-12 in Wigan’s favour at the break.

With neither side prepared to give up the fight in the second half, Wigan were next to cross the whitewash as Jacob Kilner-Douglas got the ball off the back of the scrum and had the legs to round the full back and go all the way, the conversion attempt from Myers was off target but Wigan led 22-12.

Leeds responded with two tries inside the last twenty minutes. The first came from Dylan Proud as he powered over on the hour mark before a carbon copy saw Neil Tchamambe go over in the corner, both attempts at the extras were missed as Leeds trailed 22-20 with the game drawing to the final stages.

With ten minutes to go, the hosts were awarded a penalty and Sinfield was on hand to slot over the penalty goal to put the scores level. Sinfield stole the win in the dying minutes, as a dropped back ball allowed him the space to add a drop goal and secure the hard fought 23-22 victory for Leeds Rhinos and hand Wigan Warriors Academy their first loss of the season.

Leeds Rhinos: Alfie Edgell, Neil Tchamambe, Will Gatus, Max Simpson, Riley Lumb, Jack Sinfield, Kai Morgan, Jake Higgins, Bailey Aldridge, Ethan Spear, Billy Davies, Blake Morgan, Jack Johnson.

Interchange: Dylan Proud, Ashton Robinson, Harrison Gilmore, Ben Littlewood.

Tries: Morgan (22′), Lumb (30′), Proud (59′), Tchamambe (62′)

Goals: Sinfield 3/5

Drop Goals: Sinfield (75′)

Wigan Warriors: Jacob Kilner-Douglas, Reagan Sumner, Harry Smithers, Maddox Jeffrey, Ethan Fitzgerald, Tom Ratchford, Billy Myers, Harvie Hill, Lewis Pinder, Max Wood, Junior Nsemba, Finley Beardsworth, Joe Baldwin.

Interchange: Reece Bushell, Ryan Brown, Harvey Wilson, Reece Stanton.

Tries: Wood (6′), Fitzgerald (9′), Sumner (13′), Kilner-Douglas (55′)

Goals: Myers 3/4