Wigan win against Leopards

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors run out winners against Leigh Leopards.
• Wigan scored eight tries on Saturday afternoon, including a debut try from Tyler Dupree and an Abbas Miski hat-trick.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 44-18 Leigh Leopards.

Wigan Warriors scored eight tries to take another win in the battle of the borough with a 44-18 victory at the DW Stadium.

Tyler Dupree made his Wigan Warriors debut after signing earlier in the week, as Jai Field made his 50th appearance in Cherry & White. Jake Wardle also made his 100th career appearance in the fixture (22 for Wigan).

Wigan scored three first half tries, including two in the final three minutes of the opening half to get them in with a 16-6 lead at the break. Wigan scored five second half tries, including a debut try from Tyler Dupree and an Abbas Miski hat-trick to complete the win.

Report

It was a quiet start to the encounter with neither side breaking the deadlock in the opening 10 minutes, the closest attempt came as Bevan French tried to send Pearce-Paul away on the right edge before the ball came loose.

The visitors did get the opening score though in the 12th minute as a penalty allowed the Leopards to start a fresh set from 20m away for Tom Amone to power over from close range close to the sticks, Ben Reynolds converted for 0-6.

Wigan responded immediately as Harry Smith sent Liam Farrell through a gaping hall with Jai Field in support who got the last pass away to see Bevan French glide under the sticks. Harry Smith added the two to put the scores back level approaching the 20 minute mark.

Tyler Dupree came on for his Wigan Warriors debut in the 21st minute as Leigh got a scrum from short range for a knock on. Wigan did well to soak up the pressure though as they saw out the set, putting Tom Briscoe into touch on the last to get the ball back.

Wigan thought they’d got themselves in front in the 25th minute as a loose pass was picked up by Marshall to send Jake Wardle racing away, however the effort was chalked off by the video referee for a tackle off the ball by Marshall on Briscoe for Leigh to get the penalty 20m away.

Wigan got their noses back in front just on half time as a grubber from Abbas Miski was knocked on by Chamberlain before being picked up by Toby King to get to complete the try. From the touchline, Smith was wide with the conversion but Wigan went in again immediately with a carbon copy of the try, this time Abbas Miski’s grubber finding Bevan French to touch down for this second of the afternoon, Smith added the conversion this time to see Wigan in with the 16-6 lead at half time.

Wigan extended their lead shortly after the restart as Tyler Dupree burst through the line to score a try on debut in front of the South Stand, Smith added the extras for 22-6. That was before Abbas Miski intercepted a pass headed for Josh Charnley to race 80m and crashing in for Wigan’s fifth of the afternoon with Smith adding a touchline conversion for 28-6.

Abbas Miski made it two in quick succession as he also crossed on the hour mark, this time collecting a pass on the right wing to dive in and somehow keep himself in play under immense pressure to ground the ball. Smith couldn’t add the extras this time from the touchline but it was 32-6.

Wigan were flying in the second half as Bevan French fired a pass out to Liam Marshall on the left wing who cut inside to score under the uprights, Smith adding another two points to the tally to make it 38-6.

The Leopards clawed one back as Tom Briscoe went in at the right corner, with Reynolds adding the conversion to put the score to 38-12. Wigan made an immediate response though, as Abbas Miski intercepted another pass close to the goal line this time to complete his hat-trick under the sticks. Harry Smith added a sixth conversion for 44-12.

Leigh had the last say as Robbie Mulhern broke a tackle to crash under the sticks, with Reynolds adding the two but it was Wigan who took the two points with a 44-18 victory to jump up to second in the Betfred Super League.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Kaide Ellis, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Kai Pearce-Paul, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.

Interchange: Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago, Junior Nsemba, Cade Cust.

18th Player: Harvie Hill.

Tries: French (17′, 40′), King (37′), Dupree (47′), Miski (51′, 58′, 71′), Marshall (60′)

Goals: Smith 6/8

Leigh Leopards: Gareth O’Brien, Tom Briscoe, Ed Chamberlain, Zak Hardaker, Josh Charnley, Ben Reynolds, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Joe Mellor, Robbie Mulhern, Oliver Holmes, Jack Hughes, John Asiata.

Interchange: Ben Nakubuwai, Nathan Wilde, Matt Davis, Joe Wardle.

18th Player: Aaron Smith.

Tries: Amone (12′), Briscoe (68′), Mulhern (78′)

Goals: Reynolds 3/3

Attendance: 15,377

Referee: Jack Smith.