Warriors beat Leopards – Wigan Warriors

• Match report as Wigan Warriors win against Leigh Leopards at The Brick Community Stadium.
• A French Bevan double was matched by an acrobatic Liam Marshall effort and a Liam Farrell try as the Warriors ran out winners.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 24-6 Leigh Leopards.

Match report as WIgan Warriors beat Leigh Leopards 24-6 at The Brick Community Stadium.

A heated contest in the first half saw just one try scored. An Adam Keighran penalty after a Robbie Mulhern sin bin opened the scoring before Bevan French stepped in immediately to give Wigan an 8-0 lead. Brad O’Neill was booked just before the end of the first forty as Wigan started the second half down a man.

Leigh reduced the deficit with a Brad Dwyer try in the second half, but Wigan responded immediately with a quick double from Marshall and French. A final flurry saw Liam Farrell save a great break from Jake Wardle to complete the victory and see the Warriors to victory and top of the Betfred Super League table.

Report

The Warriors saw Mike Cooper leave the field for a head injury assessment in the second minute after the striker collided with Robbie Mulhern.

A high-tempo game saw the scores remain at nil after 20 minutes, but there were chances for both teams. Abbas Miski appeared to be sent into space on the right but the play was called back for a forward pass. After much defensive fire Leigh had a chance as Ipape raced for the line, French was on hand to stop him before Liam Farrell finished the following play to deny Leopards on the line at the last tackle.

Robbie Mulhern was sent to the sin bin shortly after Kaide Ellis was hit twice in a row late on. The Warriors opted for the penalty tee as Adam Keighran slotted over the first two points of the game.

Straight from the restart Wigan crossed for the opening try. A fantastic run from Jake Wardle saw him shrug off a Zak Hardaker tackle before sending an inside ball to Bevan French who completed the move by scoring close to the sticks. Adam Keighran kicked the conversion to make it 8-0.

Leigh were asking questions before half-time when Mulhern came back from the penalty spot, but the Warriors held firm in defence. Brad O’Neill was sent to the sin bin with just minutes left in the half, but the Warriors went into the shed with an 8-0 lead.

With the man advantage, Leigh thought they had hit back in the 45th minute when Zak Hardaker got in before the ball was passed to Umyla Hanley, the winger tried to dive in the corner but his foot made contact and the effort was marked. stopped by the video referee, because it remained 8-0 for Vireși and Albi.

The Leopards hit back with a try in the 54th minute to cut the deficit to two points. A penalty for a late tackle allowed Leigh into the Wigan half and quick play from Brad Dwyer saw the prostitute head near the posts. Moylan converted the effort to make it 8-6 with 25 minutes to play.

Wigan responded immediately as they went up the other end to score their second of the night. A through ball to Liam Marshall saw the winger leap into the air and he brought the ball down perfectly in a fine acrobatic effort. Keighran couldn’t add the extras but Wigan came back to make it 12-6.

In the blink of an eye again Wigan were in again, Bevan French went through a goal before slotting the ball into the goal and following it up himself. Keighran scored the two and it was 18-6.

A final flurry from Wigan saw Jake Wardle break through again and Liam Farrell in support completed the move to score under the posts. Adam Keighran was on target to seal a 24-6 win.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith, Mike Cooper, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Exchanges: Ethan Havard, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Sam Walters.

18th player: Zach Eckersley.

Try: French (22′, 59′), Marshall (57′), Farrell (78′)

Objectives: Keighran 4/5

Sin Bin: O’Neill (38′)

Leigh Leopards: Matt Moylan, Umyla Hanley, Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Kai O’Donnell, Ed Chamberlain, Owen Trout.

Exchanges: Aaron Pene, Brad Dwyer, Jack Hughes, John Asiata.

18th player: Matt Davis.

Try: Dwyer (54′)

Objectives: Moylan 1/1

Sin Bin: Mulhern (21′)

Referee: Aaron Moore.

Present: 16,053