Wigan win at Leigh

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors win away at Leigh Leopards.
• Wigan scored eight tries from eight different scorers in the victory.
• FT | Leigh Leopards 12-40 Wigan Warriors.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors win away at Leigh Sports Village in the Battle of the borough.

Wigan were relentless in Leigh as they scored eight tries from eight different scorers to return to winning ways in Betfred Super League. Junior Nsemba crossed for his first ever Super League try in the victory.

Report

Leigh got closest to the goal line in the early exchanges after a Wigan knock on but the defence backed up well to squander any chance of an early score for the hosts.

On 5 minutes a swirling kick in the air was fumbled by O’Brien deep in his own half before Wigan were then awarded a scrum 15m out. Leigh were then immediately penalised for a dangerous tackle on Bevan French. From the scrum Liam Farrell went close but Abbas Miski opened the scoring on the other side of the pitch with a fantastic diving effort in the right corner. The touchline conversion from Harry Smith was wide as Wigan had the 4-0 lead after 5 minutes.

Matt Moylan was sent to the sin bin in the 12th minute after making contact with the head of Jai Field, who was returning the ball from his own goal line.

Wigan extended their lead in the 16th minute as a neat grubber in behind from Bevan French bounced up nicely for Willie Isa to collect and score his first try of the season, and his first for Wigan since September 2021. Harry Smith added the extras to make it 10-0 to the Warriors.

Wigan soon grabbed a third with an unbelievable effort from Bevan French. Patrick Mago sent Jai Field bursting through a gap before getting a pass away to French on the right, the stand-off sent a grubber through to collect himself and ground the ball. Another testing effort from the touchline for Smith was off target as Wigan had the 14-0 advantage.

Just two minutes later and Wigan had a fourth, Kruise Leeming weaved his way through the defence and with Harry Smith in support, sent the half back diving under the sticks. Smith converted his own effort and it was 20-0 after half an hour.

Leigh got on the board in the 32nd minute as a kick through from Charnley evaded the Wigan defence, allowing Ricky Leutele to pounce for the Leopards. Moylan converted the score and it was 20-6.

Wigan were penalised right at the end of the first half as the Leopards opted to kick for two but the effort from the tee from Moylan was off target and it remained 20-6 in Wigan’s favour at the interval.

The electric attack from Wigan continued as Jai Field added his name to the scoresheet on 45 minutes. A kick on the last from Leigh found Harry Smith who sent Field away who raced the length of the field to ease over. Smith slotted over the conversion and Wigan were out to 26-6.

Bevan French thought he’d added his second of the night on 50 minutes but the video referee overturned the on-field decision of a try to deny the score, French was held up in crossing the line. Wigan continued the set though and Adam Keighran did get the score in the follow-up, diving in on the right for his second try of the season. Smith pulled the touchline conversion wide.

Wigan extended their lead just a few minutes later as Junior Nsemba crossed for his first ever Super League try, latching onto a great pass to crash over. Smith added the extras again and Wigan held the 36-6 lead with 20 minutes to play.

Leigh responded quickly however, the Leopards working from right to left to send Josh Charnley crashing over in the corner. Moylan added the extras and the score stood at 36-12.

Wigan scored their eight try for their eighth different scorer in the 65th minute, Jake Wardle doing fantastically well in the build-up to slip his defender and send Marshall away down the left wing. The conversion was unsuccessful but Wigan stood at 40-12.

Gallery:

Leigh Leopards: Gareth O’Brien, Umyla Hanley, Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Matt Moylan, Lachlan Lam, Dan Norman, Ben McNamara, Owen Trout, Kai O’Donnell, Frankie Halton, Jack Hughes.

Interchange: Ben Nakubuwai, Matt Davis, Brad Dwyer, Ed Chamberlain.

18th Player: Lewis Baxter

Tries: Leutele (32′), Charnley (60′)

Goals: Moylan 2/3

Sin Bin: Moylan (12′)

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Luke Thompson, Brad O’Neill, Harvie Hill, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Interchange: Patrick Mago, Kruise Leeming, Junior Nsemba, Tiaki Chan.

18th Player: Zach Eckersley

Tries: Miski (5′), Isa (16′), French (26′), Smith (28′), Field (45′), Keighran (51′), Nsemba (57′), Marshall (65′)

Goals: Smith 4/8

Referee: Jack Smith.

Attendance: 10,308