Warriors Wheelchair lose out in semi-final
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Wheelchair lose to Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair.
- Despite an energetic start, the Warriors fell behind and could not overturn the deficit.
- FT | Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair 56-36 Wigan Warriors Wheelchair.
Match Report as Wigan Warriors Wheelchair lose out against Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Wheelchair play-off semi-final to see their title defence come to an end.
Finishing fourth in the table earned Wigan Warriors Wheelchair a trip to league leaders Leeds Rhinos, just seven days after facing the same team in the penultimate round of the season.
Neither side could break the deadlock within the opening 10 minutes, but with Phil Roberts and Jack Heggie combining, it was Adam Rigby who crossed after a change of angle close to the line. Adding the extras, Heggie made it 6-0 from the tee.
Doubling the lead just moments later, a flick pass from Chris Greenhalgh put Nathan Roberts in at the right corner. Heggie was again successful with the kick.
With a 12-0 advantage after 20 minutes, things were looking good for the Cherry & Whites, but this was soon to change. Spreading the ball from the right touchline across court to the left, Nathan Mulhall was the beneficiary to open the scoring for the Home side.
Entering the game from the bench, Josh Butler caused havoc with two quick fire tries. This was then backed up with a brace from Nathan Collins, the second of which was awarded as an 8 point try. With all conversions successful, Leeds had turned the score around to 32-12 at half time.
A rallying team talk by injured Captain Dec Roberts at the break was enough to give his side a motivation to stay in the game. This was immediately evident when a quick play the ball and pass down the short side by Rigby allowed Greenhalgh to touch down in the corner, with Jodie Boyd-Ward unable to take his tag.
Following up the try, Greenhalgh then took the ball to the line before offloading to Rigby, he then passed on to Heggie who had spotted a gap out wide and was able to keep up the momentum. Another conversion brought the score to 32-24.
Having replaced Phil Roberts at half time, Toby Burton-Carter had been causing all sorts of problems with his strong carries, but it was his positioning and speed that saw him score next. Receiving the ball from Heggie. Burton-Carter evaded Collins down the left flank to score a third try of the half. Slotting over the conversion, Heggie had closed the gap to just 2 points.
Despite the fightback, a similar story to the first half was to unfold as Butler continued to be a thorn in the Warriors side. Two tries, either side of a Mulhall score, from the Leeds youngster, plus another from Collins took the score to 56-30 with just 5 minutes left to play.
The curtain was coming down on the Wheelchair season for Wigan, but the final word would go to Heggie, who scored under the sticks after Dan Dutson’s quick play the ball. Keeping up his 100% success rate from the tee, Heggie’s conversion ended the game at 56-36 to Leeds.
Leeds Rhinos: Nathan Collins, Nathan Mulhall, Ewan Clibbens, Tom Halliwell, Jodie Boyd-Ward
Interchanges: Josh Butler, Becky Wilkinson, Verity Smith
Tries: Mulhall (2), Butler (4), Collins (3)
Goals: Collins (10/10)
Wigan Warriors: Chris Greenhalgh, Nathan Roberts, Jack Heggie, Adam Rigby, Phil Roberts
Interchanges: Toby Burton-Carter, Mel Griffiths, Daniel Dutson
Tries: Rigby, N.Roberts, Greenhalgh, Heggie (2), Burton-Carter
Goals: Heggie (6/6)
