WAKEFIELD TRINITY 20 LEIGH LEOPARDS 24
ARINDAM REJ, DIY Kitchens Stadium, Sunday
JOE OFAHENGAUE’S try produced a late twist to snatch a victory for Leigh and underline their top-four qualities, after a gutsy effort from play-off chasing Wakefield.
David Armstrong’s first-half double of tries had helped Leigh into an 18-12 lead at the break – but in arm wrestle of a second half Wakefield edged 20-18 ahead before Adrian Lam’s men found the decisive breakthrough.
The winning side’s spine players impressed overall and they needed guts in tough circumstances to come through this test.
It was an afternoon which Wakefield dedicated to raising money for Candlelighters, a children’s cancer charity – with their coach Daryl Powell’s grandson, Clarke, battling leukaemia.
On the field, the West Yorkshire-based side had Jake Trueman back starting in the halves alongside Mason Lino, while the away team were unchanged from their win at Huddersfield – with Josh Charnley named as 18th man.
Max Jowitt kicking out on the full, from the kick-off, was not the start the home players wanted – and there was soon also a green card for Josh Griffin.
The early adversity and pressure eventually told when Armstrong dummied and squeezed over in the right-hand corner for Leigh’s first try.
But Wakefield responded quickly though when Jowitt also dummied and skidded over, after decent work from Trueman and Mason Lino.
With Steve McNamara watching from the stands on Father’s Day, after the loss of his role with Catalans Dragons, his son Ben kicked a penalty-goal for Leigh to make it 6-6.
And it got even better for the McNamara family when Leigh broke forward as Darnell McIntosh’s run laid the platform, then Edwin Ipape’s delivery led to Ben skilfully setting up Armstrong for an eye-catching try.
McIntosh looked like he might pounce for another Leigh try but there was some heroic defensive work from Jowitt to deny him. Leigh extended their lead to 14-6 though when McNamara added a straightforward two points.
McIntosh also made amends for his near miss as he finished for a try – following a nice step, dummy, weaving run and pass from Lachlan Lam.
Wakefield cut the deficit just before the break to 12-18 when a period of pressure ended in Oliver Pratt finding space to burst over from Jowitt’s assist.
The tight scoreline was reflected in a tense and gritty start to the second half, with try-scoring chances being scarce in the opening 20 minutes of the second period as the game became a grinding affair with the teams going set-for-set.
The deadlock was broken when Jowitt booted a penalty goal after an offside and narrowed the gap to just four points.
The roars around the ground were about to get even louder too – as Trueman’s high kick ran loose for Corey Hall to touch down, confirmed as a try by the video referee, then Jowitt’s successful conversion nudged Wakefield into a 20-18 lead.
But Leigh finally made the in-roads they were looking for late on when Ofahengaue planted the ball after more impressive work from Ipape and McNamara.
There was almost another late twist but Jowitt was denied close to the line by some determined defence, as Leigh held on for a hard-fought win.
GAMESTAR: Ben McNamara produced some classy moments to help break Wakefield, who tested his team in gutsy fashion.
GAMEBREAKER: Joe Ofanhengaue’s try in the closing stages swung the game in Leigh’s favour late on, with the contest on a knife edge for a long time before that.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: David Armstrong’s second try came after a skilful passing move ended in Ben McNamara teeing him up with an inside pass.
ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Ben McNamara (Leigh)
2 pts David Armstrong (Leigh)
1 pt Max Jowitt (Wakefield)
MATCHFACTS
TRINITY
1 Max Jowitt
24 Matty Russell
4 Corey Hall
19 Oliver Pratt
5 Tom Johnstone
6 Jake Trueman
20 Mason Lino
8 Mike McMeeken
9 Liam Hood
18 Isaiah Vagana
25 Jack Croft
12 Josh Griffin
13 Jay Pitts
Subs (all used)
21 Mathieu Cozza
23 Josh Rourke
28 Harvey Smith
31 Caius Faatili
18th man (not used)
11 Seth Nikotemo
Also in 21-man squad
2 Lachlan Walmsley
3 Cameron Scott
30 Jayden Myers
Tries: Jowitt (9), Pratt (37), Hall (64)
Goals: Jowitt 4/4
LEOPARDS
1 David Armstrong
2 Darnell McIntosh
3 Tesi Niu
4 Umyla Hanley
18 Keanan Brand
22 Ben McNamara
7 Lachlan Lam
32 Joe Ofahengaue
9 Edwin Ipape
10 Robbie Mulhern
11 Frankie Halton
8 Owen Trout
13 Isaac Liu
Subs
12 Jack Hughes
15 Alec Tuitavake
16 Matt Davis
24 Bailey Hodgson (not used)
18th man (not used)
5 Josh Charnley
Also in 21-man squad
6 Gareth O’Brien
17 Brad Dwyer
21 Andy Badrock
Tries: Armstrong (4, 24), McIntosh (34), Ofanhengaue (74)
Goals: McNamara 4/6
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 6-4, 6-6, 6-12, 6-14, 6-18, 12-18; 14-18, 20-18, 20-24
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Trinity: Max Jowitt; Leopards: Ben McNamara
Penalty count: 9-8
Half-time: 12-18
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 7,147