Reserves beaten by Rhinos
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Reserves lose against Leeds Rhinos Reserves at Robin Park Arena.
- The Warriors fell to a heavy defeat despite five tries including a hat-trick for Harvie Hill.
- FT | Wigan Warriors 26-60 Leeds Rhinos.
Match Report as Wigan Warriors Reserves lose against Leeds Rhinos Reserves.
The Warriors found themselves 30-0 down in the opening quarter with Leeds crossing for five converted tries. Wigan hit back through Harvie Hill but the Rhinos added a further three converted scores and a penalty goal to go in with a 50-6 lead at the turnaround.
The Rhinos started the second half with two more tries to make it 60-6 before Wigan responded through Lewis Daniel and a Harvie Hill double – confirming a hat-trick for the prop forward but it was Leeds who took home the two points with the 60-26 victory at Robin Park Arena.
Report
The Warriors fell behind early as Leeds crossed for a quickfire treble of converted tries – all in the centre of the field -from X, Clark-Wood and Stead in the opening 10 minutes to find themselves 18-0 down.
Joe Diskin then went in for Leeds fourth in quick succession under the sticks, with Sinfield converting for 24-0 before full-back Harley Thomas went over on the right edge to extend the Rhinos lead further, Sinfield was on target once more and it was 30-0 to the visitors.
Wigan finally got their response on 24 minutes as Harvie Hill crashed over from close range to reduce the deficit but Leeds still held the 24-point advantage.
The Rhinos then crossed again as Joe Diskin broke through the middle of the pitch, sending full-back Thomas over for his second of the afternoon.
Elliot Wallis then got in on the action for Leeds, beating his defenders on the left edge before getting past Drachenberg to get over. Sinfield made it 7 from 7 off the tee and it was 42-6. Leeds then added a converted scored from Presley Cassell and a Jack Sinfield penalty to see them in with a 50-6 lead at the turnaround.
It was Leeds who crossed first in the second half, as Presley Cassell went over for his second of the afternoon, spinning out of a tackle to get the ball down before Sinfield kicked his 10th consecutive two-pointer to make it 56-0.
Wigan did respond 5 minutes later as Josh Cartwright went diving in on the right edge, but an unsuccessful conversion saw a 46-point swing remain in Leeds’ favour.
The Rhinos hit 60 on the hour mark as Ethan Clark-Wood made his tally a double, also diving in at the right corner. Sinfield was off target for the first time all afternoon but Leeds were looking comfortable at 60-10 going into the final 20 minutes.
Lewis Daniels was next to cross as he attacked the left edge for the Warriors, getting his reward and putting Wigan back on the board. Lowe couldn’t add the extras and it was 60-14.
Wigan were finally finding their stride as Harvie hill crashed over twice in the final 10 minutes, confirming his hat-trick, as Nathan Lowe converted both scores but it was too little too late for the Warriors who fell to the 60-26 defeat.
Wigan Warriors: Jaiden Drachenberg, Josh Cartwright, Finlay Yeomans, Charlie Yeomans, Nathan Lowe, Jack Purtill,
Tom Ratchford, Harvie Hill, Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Harlen Smith, George O’Loughlin, Taylor Kerr.
Interchange: Kalum Rathbone, Leo Wadsworth, Lewis Daniels, Declan Murphy.
18th Player: Shea O’Connor.
Tries: Hill (24′, 72′, 79′), Cartwright (59′), Daniels (68′)
Goals: Lowe 3/5
Leeds Rhinos: Harley Thomas, Jack Smith, Ethan Clark-Wood, Marcus QareQare, Elliot Wallis, Jack Sinfield, Matt Frawley, Joe Butterfield, Joe Diskin, Jacob Stead, Oliver Smart, Zak Lloyd, Presley Cassell.
Interchange: Shane Tuohey, Oscar Brown, Noah Whittingham, Jayemm Oladipupo.
18th Player: Jacob Hardy.
Tries: Diskin (2′, 11′), Clark-Wood (4′, 62′), Stead (8′), Thomas (18′, 28′), Wallis (33′), Cassell (36′, 53′)
Goals: Sinfield 10/11
