Warriors nil Rhinos

[Warriors News]

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors record a big win against Leeds Rhinos.
• Jake Wardle registered a hat-trick as Wigan ran in nine unanswered tries.
• FT | Leeds Rhinos 0-50 Wigan Warriors.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors record a huge victory over Leeds Rhinos to remain top of the Super League table.

Wigan dominated the opening forty as Jake Wardle crossed for a brace of tries, with Jai Field and Liam Marshall also adding to the scoresheet as Wigan went in 22-0 to the good at the turnaround.

Jake Wardle completed his hat-trick in the second half with Kai Pearce-Paul, Abbas Miski, Liam Farrell and Patrick Mago also getting in on the act as Wigan kept Leeds to nil.

Report

It was a thrilling opening to a hot encounter at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium and it was the Rhinos who thought they’d struck first as Harry Newman raced half the length of the field to go over, the referee sent the effort to the video referee and no try was awarded as Leeds knocked the ball on in the build-up.

Wigan got the first points on the board just three minutes later though, a high tackle on Jake Wardle allowed them into the Rhinos half before a perfect crossfield kick saw Jake Wardle leap highest to collect the ball and get it down. Smith added the extras as Wigan led 6-0 after 15 minutes.

Wigan extended their lead in the 21st minute as Harry Smith once again sent a kick across field, Leeds fumbled the ball in-goal for Jai Field to pounce on the loose ball. The effort was checked intently by the video referee but the try was confirmed with Harry Smith adding the extras for 12-0.

The Warriors added to their scoreline in the 33rd minute as swift hands from Field to Wardle allowed the Centre to send Marshall over with ease in the left corner. Smith saw his conversion attempt ricochet off the uprights but Wigan had the 16-0 advantage with five minutes until the break.

Wigan were carving through the Leeds backline and an error from the Rhinos got Wigan back on the ball from close range, Field drew in the defence before sending Jake Wardle through a gap for his second of the afternoon. Harry Smith nailed the conversion from out wide to see Wigan in with a 22-0 lead at the turnaround.

Wigan’s dominance continued from the off as Kai Pearce-Paul charged down a kick which Morgan Smithies collected to send Pearce-Paul diving in under the sticks in front of a jubilant travelling support. Smith added the extras once more to make it 28-0.

Jake Wardle completed his hat-trick just after the hour, an error from Leeds allowing Kai Pearce-Paul to capitalise on the loose ball before Wigan sent it left for Wardle to shrug off the defence to dive over for his third try. Harry Smith slotted over another two points as Wigan hit 34-0.

Wigan crossed for a seventh try in the 70th minute as winger Abbas Miski collected a nice drop off pass from Bevan French to put the ball down under the uprights, with Smith adding his sixth goal to see Wigan out to 40-0.

Not done there, Wigan added their eighth unanswered try as Jai Field sent Liam Farrell racing backwards towards the goal line before shrugging off his defender to crash over. Smith’s conversion attempt edged wide of the posts, but it was 44-0 to the Warriors.

Wigan rounded off the afternoon with two minutes to go as Junior Nsemba took a drive in before getting an offload away for the prop forward to ease over next to the sticks. Harry Smith slotted the two points to confirm a 50-0 victory for Wigan.

Gallery:

Photo: Ste Guan Photo: Ste Guan Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Leeds Rhinos: Luke Hooley, David Fusitu’a, Harry Newman, Rhyse Martin, Ash Handley, Morgan Gannon, Jack Sinfield, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Tom Holroyd, James McDonnell, Sam Walters, Cameron Smith.

Interchange: James Donaldson, Sam Lisone, Corey Johnson, Leon Ruan.

18th Player: Alfie Edgell.

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.

Interchange: Sam Powell, Junior Nsemba, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree.

18th Player: Joe Shorrocks.

Tries: Wardle (15′, 38′, 62′), Field (21′), Marshall (33′), Pearce-Paul (41′), Miski (70′), Farrell (74′)

Goals: Smith 7/9

Attendance:

Referee: Jack Smith.

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