WIGAN WARRIORS cruised into the Super League Grand Final with a comprehensive 36-0 thrashing of Leigh Leopards.
Wigan were the better side in the opening exchanges, Liam Marshall punishing a Matt Moylan error from a high kick to canter over in the corner on 11 minutes. Adam Keighran, however, couldn’t convert as the hosts led 4-0.
The Warriors kept on coming, though, and they had their second on 18 minutes when Sam Walters stretched out through an Oliver Holmes tackle. Keighran this time converted for a 10-0 lead.
Keighran kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty after Abbas Miski intercepted a Ricky Leutele pass to run 80 metres as Leigh looked certain to reply before Matt Peet’s side struck a killer blow as half-time approached, Marshall grabbing a second off a Jai Field pass. Keighran made it 18-0 with the boot.
HALF-TIME: WIGAN WARRIORS 18-0 LEIGH LEOPARDS
The Leopards started appallingly bad in the second-half too with Aaron Pene dropping the ball on the first tackle as Walters punished that error just two minutes in. Keighran converted for a 24-0 lead.
And Keighran was on hand to slot over another two points when Brad Dwyer was found offside.
26-0 up, Wigan were purring and some Bevan French magic sealed the deal on the hour. The Wigan livewire received the ball with nothing on, before grubbering a kick through for himself in a moment of sublime skill. Keighran made it 32-0 with the conversion.
There was still time for Field to notch a superb individual try from a scrum with Keighran rounding the scores off at 38-0.
Wigan Warriors
1 Jai Field – 10
2 Abbas Miski – 8
3 Adam Keighran – 8
4 Jake Wardle – 9
5 Liam Marshall – 9
6 Bevan French – 10
7 Harry Smith – 9
8 Ethan Havard – 7
17 Kruise Leeming – 8
16 Luke Thompson – 8
21 Junior Nsemba – 10
22 Sam Walters – 9
13 Kaide Ellis – 8
Substitutes
10 Liam Byrne – 6
15 Patrick Mago – 6
19 Tyler Dupree – 6
27 Tom Forber – 6
Tries: Marshall (11, 38), Walters (18, 42), French (60), Field (76)
Goals: Keighran 7/8
Leigh Leopards
6 Matt Moylan – 3
3 Zak Hardaker – 4
4 Ricky Leutele – 5
24 Umyla Hanley – 4
34 Darnell McIntosh – 4
1 Gareth O’Brien – 4
7 Lachlan Lam – 5
8 Tom Amone – 6
9 Edwin Ipape – 5
10 Robbie Mulhern – 6
20 Oliver Holmes – 3
12 Jack Hughes – 6
13 John Asiata – 5
Substitutes
15 Matt Davis – 4
17 Owen Trout – 5
33 Brad Dwyer – 4
35 Aaron Pene – 5
Tries:
Goals:
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