WARRINGTON WOLVES 16 LEIGH LEOPARDS 12
DAVE PARKINSON, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Friday
JOE PHILBIN scored the winning try five minutes from time to ensure Warrington completed their pre-season programme with a hard-fought win over Leigh.
It proved an expensive evening for the Leopards, with injuries to Joe Ofahengaue, Umyla Hanley and Matt Davis.
The Wire made a perfect start to the game when fullback Cai Taylor-Wray swept left and linked with Toby King for the experienced centre to dip his shoulder and beat two players to the line. A superb conversion from Marc Sneyd made it 6-0 after three minutes.
The bright start continued for the hosts, who were able to hold former Wolves skipper Jack Hughes short of the line at the other end. Liam Byrne was a keen worker for the Wolves and was heavily involved in his first spell on the field.
At the other end, Keanan Brand conceded a drop-out, Adam Cook attempted a short kick but Warrington recovered only to see Marc Sneyd put a kick of his own too long after nine minutes.
Warrington’s Josh Smith also enjoyed a strong first half and Leigh did well to hold him short in the 21st minute.
Leigh’s best chance of the half came three minutes later when sprightly play on the left brought a running chance for Innes Senior but he was tackled into touch.
Within a couple of minutes of this, Leigh had to replace Ofahengaue while Hanley used his jersey as a makeshift sling when he was also withdrawn.
This brought Nathan Wilde and Andy Badrock into play for the Leopards, and Wilde in particular took the game to the Wolves.
The Leopards then saw winger Brand yellow carded after 29 minutes, when he threw the ball away in disgust after an error inside his own 20.
Leigh rallied with Hughes forcing an error from Luke Thomas, and Bailey Hodgson saw a try ruled out due to an obstruction.
Just before half-time, wide play on the left from the Wolves brought a score for Jake Thewlis and the hosts led 10-0.
Within eleven minutes of the restart Leigh were level when Badrock and Senior claimed back-to-back tries and the two conversions from Adam Cook gave the Leopards a 12-10 advantage.
Taylor-Wray looked nervous under a steepled Gareth O’Brien kick and the visitors looked solid and, to be fair, looked like they could claim victory themselves.
But five minutes from the end, Warrington grabbed a crucial try as first Lachlan Webster rode a challenge from Liam Horne before Ewan Irwin stabbed a kick in-goal and Philbin touched down.
Highly-rated youngster Irwin goaled for a 16-12 lead and Warrington threw everything at the Leopards, trapping O’Brien in-goal and keeping Leigh near their own line to secure the win.
GAMESTAR: It was a bright first performance from Adam Cook who looks a shrewd halfback recruit for the Leopards.
GAMEBREAKER: The converted try from Joe Philbin towards the end of the game.
MATCHFACTS
WOLVES
1 Cai Taylor-Wray
2 Josh Thewlis
26 Josh Smith
3 Toby King
27 Jake Thewlis
6 George Williams
7 Marc Sneyd
8 Luke Yates
9 Danny Walker
16 Liam Byrne
34 Kelepi Tanginoa
12 Sam Stone
13 Ben Currie
Subs (all used)
17 Jordan Crowther
18 Ewan Irwin
19 Leon Hayes
20 James Bentley
21 Luke Thomas
22 Joe Philbin
25 Max Wood
31 Ben Hartill
32 Ewan Smith
33 Tommy Rhodes
35 Lachlan Webster
Tries: King (2), Josh Thewlis (39), Philbin (75)
Goals: Sneyd 1/2, Irwin 1/1
LEOPARDS
18 Bailey Hodgson
19 Innes Senior
3 Tesi Niu
4 Umyla Hanley
2 Keenan Brand
6 Adam Cook
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Joe Ofahengaue
9 Edwin Ipape
12 Owen Trout
11 Frankie Halton
15 Jacob Allick-Wiencke
22 Jack Hughes
Subs (all used)
5 Josh Charnley
16 Matt Davis
17 Liam Horne
20 AJ Towse
21 Gareth O’Brien
23 Andy Badrock
24 Ben McNamara
26 Nathan Wilde
28 Ryan Brown
29 Will Brough
30 Oliver Polec
Tries: Badrock (47), Senior (51)
Goals: Cook 2/2
Sin bin: Brand (29) – dissent
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0; 10-6, 10-12, 16-12
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Wolves: Liam Byrne; Leopards: Adam Cook
Penalty count: 7-8
Half-time: 10-0
Referee: Tom Grant