Warriors win against Leopards

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Leigh Leopards at Leigh Sports Village.
• Tries from French, Wardle, King and a Jai Field and Abbas Miski double helped Wigan to victory on Thursday night.
• FT | Leigh Leopards 6-34 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors scored seven tries in a strong performance away to Leigh Leopards on Thursday night.

The game saw Willie Isa mark his 300th career game as he started at second row. The Leopards pounced first as Tom Briscoe scored an early converted try for Leigh but the Warriors responded with tries from Bevan French and Jai Field to make it 10-6 going in at the break.

Jake Wardle finished off an excellent break from French to get Wigan further ahead in the early stages of the second half before Abbas Miski got in on the act to make it 18-6. Jai Field added a great solo try on the hour mark, converted for 24-6. Toby King and Abbas Miski rounded off the match with two quick fire tries in the dying minutes to see Wigan to a 34-6 victory.

Report

It was a bright start for both sides as Wigan strung together some good early attack, but it was the Leopards who struck first as Tom Briscoe finished off a diving effort in the right corner, Reynolds added the extras from the touchline to give Leigh an early 6-0 lead.

The Warriors were also down to 12-men as Jake Wardle was sent to the sin bin for a late hit in the lead-up to the Leopards early score. Wigan hit back though as a sublime 40/20 from Harry Smith got Wigan close to the goal line, the first set finished with a goal line drop out with the Warriors taking advantage of the second bite as Bevan French shimmied his way through the defensive line to score. Harry Smith couldn’t add the extras and it was 6-4 to Leigh.

Wigan went ahead for the first time in the match in the 21st minute as Jai Field extended the lead. A good move from Wigan saw Harry Smith fire a ball out to Field on the left wing, he stepped between two defenders and managed to muscle his way over the try line. Smith was successful from the left touchline to make it 10-6 to the Warriors.

Wigan flew out of the blocks in the second half and with a try chalked off for offside, Wigan soon went over again this time Bevan French broke the line to race away before chipping the ball inside for Jake Wardle to collect and cross. Smith couldn’t add the extras and it was 14-6 to Wigan.

Abbas Miski, returning to the side, added the next for Wigan. Bevan French got a quick pass away to the Lebanese winger who dived in at the left corner to give Wigan some breathing space, the conversion was missed but it was 18-6 in Wigan’s favour.

In a blink of an eye, it was 24-6 as Jai Field threw a dummy before stepping inside and adding the pace to ease for Wigan’s fifth try of the night under the sticks. Harry Smith converted with Wigan 24-6 to the good and 20 minutes to play.

With the clock ticking down to the final few minutes, Harry Smith put through a perfect kick which sat up in goal for Toby King to ground the ball, converted by Harry Smith. The final act of the game though saw Abbas Miski race onto another teasing kick towards the corner. The kick wasn’t converted but Wigan took home the two-points with a solid 34-6 win.

Gallery:

Leigh Leopards: Gareth O’Brien, Josh Charnley Ricky Leutele, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Ben Reynolds, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Kai O’Donnell, Oliver Holmes, John Asiata.

Interchange: Ben Nakubuwai, Ava Seumanufagai, Matty Davis, Ed Chamberlain.

18th Man: Tom Nisbet

Tries: Briscoe (7′)

Goals: Reynolds 1/1

Sin Bin: Wardle (8′)

Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Toby King, Kai Pearce-Paul, Jake Wardle, Abbas Miski, Jai Field, Harry Smith, Mike Cooper, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.

Interchange: Kaide Ellis, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Joe Shorrocks.

18th Man: Brad Singleton.

Tries: French (12′), Field (21′, 58′), Wardle (45′), Miski (54′, 79′), King (76′)

Goals: Smith 3/7

Referee: Liam Moore

Attendance: 9,189