Wigan march past Leeds

Martin Gleeson
12 April 2012

In-form Wigan put one hand on the league leader's shield as they claimed their first win at Headingley in five attempts with a 26-12 triumph.

First-half scores from Thomas Leuluai and George Carmont put the Warriors in command but Chris Clarkson halved the deficit when he crashed over on the stroke of half time.

Keith Senior continued the fight back after the break, but two Pat Richards penalties plus further tries from Harrison Hansen and Martin Gleeson gave the Cherry and Whites their first win at Leeds since 2008.

Leeds were caught out down their left side as early as the ninth minute after starting well. Gleeson's bullet pass sent Darrell Goulding scampering away and, as the cover arrived in the shape of Danny McGuire with Ryan Hall also in the vicinity, the Cherry and Whites winger angled a kick inside for Leuluai to dot down before Richards slotted the extras.

Wigan, who are the league's top scorers with 141 tries, crossed again in 27th minute. Clarkson coughed up possession 20 metres from the Rhinos line and, a couple of tackles later as the ball was spun left, Paul Deacon and Sam Tomkins combined to send Carmont over on the crash. Richards duly converted.

But Clarkson forced his way over on the half-time hooter, showing good endeavour in brushing Sam Tomkins to one side, after both Sinfield and then Webb, who provided the telling pass, kept the ball alive, enabling him to spin his way over for a try converted by Sinfield.

A bemused Andy Coley got 10 minutes in the sin-bin after going in late on Rob Burrow just after the break, but Leeds wasted the resulting opportunity, Webb fumbling out wide.

The home side's pressure did tell in the 47th minute and they pulled level after Burrow kicked into the corner and then followed up with a great hit on Sam Tomkins, forcing a knock-on. The loose ball was hoovered up and, with too much momentum in their favour, diminutive scrum-half Burrow bolted from the resulting play-the-ball, showed a dummy wide and hit try scorer Senior on the bump. Sinfield's conversion left the score 12-12.

Richards booted the Warriors back ahead in the 52nd minute after Ablett was found guilty of laying on by referee Steve Ganson and the Lancashire side crossed again 10 minutes later. Sam Tomkins drifted left and popped a pass into a gap between Brett Delaney and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Hansen running a great line and scorching past full-back Webb to touch down.

Richards converted before Gleeson sneaked over in front of the Wigan fans, using Goulding as his foil as Webb and Danny Buderus allowed him to squeeze over from close range.

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