Reserves defeat Rhinos

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Reserves win against Leeds Rhinos Reserves at AMT Headingley Stadium.
• Wigan scored seven tries to see out a win despite a late comback from the Rhinos.
• FT | Leeds Rhinos 30-40 Wigan Warriors.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors Reserves beat Leeds Rhinos Reserves at AMT Headingley stadium.

An end-to-end start to the game on Saturday saw both sides cross in the early exchanges. The home side were first over after back-to-back penalties from Wigan allowed them into Warriors territory and Sinfield, McCormack and Cassell linked-up to find Luis Roberts to score. Sinfield converted for 6-0.

Wigan responded immediately though as Jacob Douglas went over. Charlie Yeomans was involved to carve open some space and send Noah Hodkinson through, but with the full-back brought down it was Farrimond and Douglas who combined to cross. Farrimond was unable to convert as Wigan trailed 6-4.

The Warriors took the lead for the first time in the 23rd minute as Jacob Douglas went over again after a break from Nathan Lowe in the build-up, with the effort converted by Jack Farrimond to make it 6-10 in Wigan’s favour.

Leeds had two good opportunities to retake the lead but with both coming to nothing it was Wigan who extended their advantage prior to the break as Noah Hodkinson claimed a knock-on from Leeds to score a long-range effort. Farrimond converted to send the Cherry & Whites in at 16-6.

Wigan improved their lead 7 minutes into the second half as Tom Forber, on return from a long injury lay-off got a good pass away to Trent Kelly-Duffy to crash under the sticks. Farrimond added the two to make it 22-6.

On the hour, Forber then turned from provider to scorer as he chased his own kick through to ground the ball. Farrimond improved the score from the tee as Wigan were out to 28-6.

Wigan then scored consecutive tries from Harvie Hill with the forward crashing over twice in three minutes, both converted by Farrimond as Wigan were looking good value for the win at 40-6.

The Rhinos responded well in the final 13 minutes however, as Luis Roberts scored his second of the afternoon on 67 minutes before Presley Cassell crossed in the 74th minute. With both scores converted by Jack Sinfield the score was 40-18 to the Warriors.

Two further converted tries in the final two minutes from Jack Sinfield and Presley Cassell reduced the deficit for Leeds, though it was the Rhinos who fell to defeat on the afternoon as Wigan took home the spoils with a 40-30 victory.

Gallery:

Leeds Rhinos: Kai Taylor-Smith, Riley Lumb, Luis Roberts, Jack Smith, Alfie Johnson, Fergus McCormack, Jack Sinfield, Kieran Hudson, Mason Corbett, Ashton Robinson, Harrison Gilmore, Jacob Stead, Presley Cassell.

Interchange: Shane Tuohey, Dylan Proud, Bobby Hartley, Jack Iceton.

18th Player: Oliver Smart.

Tries: Roberts (3′, 67′), Cassell (71′, 79′), Sinfield (76′)

Goals: Sinfield 5/5

Wigan Warriors: Noah Hodkinson, Reagan Sumner, Finlay Yeomans, Nathan Lowe, Jacob Douglas, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Kian McDermott, Tom Forber, Harvie Hill, George O’Loughlin, Lukas Mason, Taylor Kerr.

Interchange: Tom Ratchford, Josh Cartwright, Kalum Rathbone, Trent Kelly-Duffy.

18th Player: Dylan Kelly-Duffy.

Tries: Douglas (6′, 23′), Hodkinson (35′), T.Kelly-Duffy (46′), Forber (59′), Hill (61′, 65′)

Goals: Farrimond 6/7