Warriors Academy win at Leeds

[Warriors News]

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy run out winners against Leeds Rhinos Academy.
• Wigan scored five tries on the night to finish their campaign in second spot.
• FT | Leeds Rhinos Academy 24-28 Wigan Warriors Academy.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors Academy beat Leeds Rhinos Academy in the final round of the league competition.

Report

Wigan started the brighter of the two sides and were rewarded for their efforts as they crossed for the first score of the game. Tom Ratchford was unfortunate to be held up over the line but the next play saw Wigan work the ball well to find George O’Loughlin who went over for the try. Jack Farrimond added the two for 6-0.

The Warriors were asking all the questions and again it came to Tom Ratchford who got over the line, but was denied once more by the referee who adjudged that the hooker had been held-up for a second time.

Leeds got their response in the 16th minute as Kyden Frater crossed for a levelling score. The Rhinos had done well to keep the ball alive on the last tackle for Frater to collect and avoid the Warriors defence to get the ball down. Riley Lumb added the two to make it 6-6.

Wigan got their noses back in front in the 22nd minute though, despite Trent Kelly-Duffy going close it was Taylor Kerr who got the try as he flew onto to ball to crash over for Wigan’s second, again Farrimond was on target from the tee to make it 12-6 to the Warriors.

The hosts pushed for a response but the Warriors backed up well in defence, before they extended their lead further. This time, after keeping the ball alive, Taylor Kerr broke the line to dive over with Farrimond improving the effort for 18-6.

Right before the hooter, Leeds’ Harrison Gilmore was dismissed for a high shot on Lukas Mason, which saw the Warriors second rower forced from the field with Leeds left to play out the second half with 12-men whilst 18-6 down.

Despite the man deficit, Leeds got themselves back in the tie immediately after the restart. Wigan were penalised for offside before Mason Corbett picked out Bobby Hartley to go over, the score was converted by Riley Lumb and it was 18-12 to Wigan.

The reply was short-lived from Leeds as Wigan extended their advantage in the 47th minute, this time Harry Higham supporting a great break to go over, which Farrimond converted to put the Warriors out to 24-12 with half an hour to play.

The end-to-end action ensued as Leeds responded once more, this time taking advantage from the Warriors for Kyden Frater to cross the whitewash for his second of the evening, Riley Lumb was on target with the extras and the score was reduced to 24-18 in Wigan’s favour.

Wigan edged further ahead in the 65th minute as a well-placed grubber kick from Jack Farrimond allowed Finlay Irwin to give chase and place the ball down, the conversion from Farrimond this time rebounded off the sticks and it was 28-18.

Within three minutes, Leeds bit back as Riley Lumb carved open some space to complete a solo effort, converting his own score to reduce Wigan’s advantage to four points, it stood 28-24 to the Warriors with 10 minutes remaining.

The Rhinos thought they’d got themselves level in the 73rd minute as a crossfield kick was collected by Dylan Proud, but the effort was ruled out for an offside in the build-up and despite back-to-back sets for Leeds in the dying minutes, the Warriors held on for a hard-fought two points to end their regular league campaign.

Gallery:

Photo: Darren Greenhalgh Photo: Darren Greenhalgh Photo: Darren Greenhalgh Photo: Darren Greenhalgh Photo: Darren Greenhalgh Photo: Darren Greenhalgh Photo: Darren Greenhalgh

Leeds Rhinos Academy: Riley Lumb, Dylan Proud, Harry Taylor, Ned McCormack, Kyden Frater, Fergus McCormack, Shan Tuohey, Freddie Brennan-Jones, Mason Corbett, Joe Phillips, Jack Johnson, Harrison Gilmore, Declan Ementon.

Interchange: Zach McSwiney, Bobby Hartley, Tom Stevens, Jack Iceton.

18th Player: Will Todd.

Tries: Frater (16′, 50′), Hartley (42′), Lumb (68′)

Goals: Lumb 4/4

Red Card: Harrison Gilmore (39′)

Wigan Warriors Academy: Noah Hodkinson, Maddox Jeffery, Josh Cartwright, George O’Loughlin, Harry Higham, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Tom Ratchford, Kian McDermott, Finlay Irwin, Lukas Mason, Taylor Kerr.

Interchange: Reece Rowcroft, Joe Baldwin, Ryan Brown, Dylan Kelly-Duffy.

18th Player: Kalum Rathbone.

Tries: O’Loughlin (8′), Kerr (22′, 34′), Higham (47′), Irwin (65′)

Goals: Farrimond 4/5

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