Betfred Super League Round 20
Wigan Warriors 44
Tries: Miski (51, 58, 71), French (17,40), King (37), Dupree (47), Marshall (60); Goals: Smith 6/ 8
Leigh Leopards 18
Tries: Amone (12), Briscoe (68), Mulhern (78); Goals: Reynolds 3/ 3
Wembley bound Leigh Leopards lost out in the Battle of the Borough as Wigan Warriors moved above them on points difference into second place in the Betfred Super League in front of the Channel4 cameras.
Adrian Lam’s side scored first and last but the Warriors scored six of their eight tries in an inspired 23-minute spell either side of the interval to earn their second win of the campaign over the Leopards.
Abbas Miski was the player of the match, scoring a second half hat-trick and also providing two assists.
This was only the Leopards’ second defeat in 15 games and they will look to get back to winning ways in the Round 21 clash at Leeds Rhinos next Sunday ahead of the start of Wembley week.
Returning to his old club where he won Super League Coach of the Year in 2020, Adrian Lam said: “I knew it was going to be a tough week for us, obviously coming off the emotional rollercoaster that we have had. I have been around as a player long enough to know it is difficult to back up from that.
“I thought Wigan were outstanding in everything that they did. I thought we were the opposite of what we have been in the last 20 rounds. That happens and I’ll draw a line in the sand quickly and move on.”
Tom Amone’s early try confirmed the Leopards’ fine start to the game as they traded sets with a Warriors side smarting from their cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Hull KR.
Though Bevan French scored Wigan’s first try soon after, the Leopards were well in contention until just before the break when Toby King and French scored tries in a three-minute spell.
The Warriors then dominated the second half as they quickly built on that 16-6 half-time advantage with Miski showing his class and Tyler Dupree marking his debut with a try, while David Marshall also crossed. Harry Smith added six goals in all.
Late tries by Tom Briscoe, his 16th of the season, and Robbie Mulhern and three Ben Reynolds goals gave some reward to the large contingent of Leopards fans who went through their full repertoire of Wembley songs.
Wigan showed their class as a club after the game as their players and staff returned to the field to make a presentation to their former player Jack Hughes, who was making his 300th career appearance.
Wigan Warriors: Jai Field; Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Kaide Ellis, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Kai Pearce-Paul, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies. Bench: Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago, Junior Nsemba, Cade Cust.
Leigh Leopards: Gareth O’Brien; Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, Josh Charnley; Ben Reynolds, Lachlan Lam; Tom Amone, Joe Mellor, Robbie Mulhern, Oliver Holmes, Jack Hughes, John Asiata. Bench: Ben Nakubuwai, Nathan Wilde, Matt Davis, Joe Wardle.
Referee: Jack Smith; Half-time: 16-6; Attendance: 15,377
