LEIGH LEOPARDS 8 WAKEFIELD TRINITY 19
DAVE PARKINSON, Progress With Unity Stadium, Friday

WAKEFIELD secured home advantage – and perhaps a psychological advantage – against Leigh in the play-offs with a largely controlled performance against the error-strewn Leopards.

Trinity, slick and combative from the off, dominated the first half and built a 0-13 advantage that could have been more.

There was little surprise when they opened the scoring after four minutes. Mason Lino put up a high kick, Isaiah Vagana came down with it and the ball squeezed out for Corey Hall to send Tom Johstone scampering in.

Max Jowitt couldn’t convert while Wakefield thought they had made it 0-8 after eight minutes when Jake Trueman’s kick led to Jayden Myers diving over the line, only for the referee to penalise for a strip on Innes Senior with two in the tackle.

The lively start continued for the visitors when Wakefield challenged a ball steal and were awarded a penalty that Jowitt slotted from in front of the posts to increase their advantage to six.

A clattering tackle resulted in Jowitt receiving a green card and Leigh managed to get away on the right with Josh Charnley. His inside ball found David Armstrong but a brilliant challenge from Hall forced a knock-on.

Another Leigh error gifted Trinity decent field position after 19 minutes and a big run came from Emre Guler. Wakefield then swept play left and Johnstone finished brilliantly in the corner. Jowitt couldn’t convert but it was now a 0-10 lead.

A tip tackle on Mike McMeeken brought another penalty in striking range for Wakefield and Jowitt increased their advantage to 0-12.

Leigh were hanging on with Caius Faatili held short and the Leopards scrambled.

They then had a couple of chances, first when Umyla Hanley contested an Adam Cook high kick but knocked-on under the attention of Jowitt, then when Owen Trout broke through and had support either side but turned the ball right where it was disrupted by Johnstone.

With the final action of the half, Trueman struck a field-goal and Trinity were worthy three-score leaders.

Despite the loss of Myers to a head injury, Trinity’s intent continued at the start of the second half, forcing a drop-out. Leigh went short and Wakefield set up camp before a breakaway from Senior saw him fly almost 50 metres, then Hanley was stopped close before Trout grounded out wide.

Cook’s kick went wide but the Leopards were finally on the board at 4-13.

In their desperation, Leigh were twice penalised for obstructing Wakefield players, the second of which was sent goalward by Jowitt, only for the otherwise outstanding fullback to miss.

With 15 minutes remaining, Lino was sinbinned for holding down Liam Horne after the PNG star roared downfield in support of Matt Davis. Leigh immediately moved the ball left and Senior scored at the corner.

Armstrong and Senior then combined down the left as Leigh began to believe, but the inside pass went to ground and was swept up by Trinity.

The visitors rode the storm and hit Leigh for a score in the 77th minute when a sharp ball from Zac Lipowicz saw Cameron Scott ground in the corner and Jowitt added his third goal.

GAMESTAR: Max Jowitt was involved in most of Wakefield’s good attack and was a rock at the back.

GAMEBREAKER: The 77th-minute try finally settled matters after the visitors dominated the first half.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Cameron Scott’s late try.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Max Jowitt (Wakefield)
2 pts Mike McMeeken (Wakefield)
1 pt Innes Senior (Leigh)

MATCHFACTS

LEOPARDS
1 David Armstrong
19 Innes Senior
23 Andy Badrock
4 Umyla Hanley
5 Josh Charnley
6 Adam Cook
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Joe Ofahengaue
17 Liam Horne
10 Robbie Mulhern
15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke
12 Owen Trout
25 Louis Brogan
Subs
9 Edwin Ipape
16 Matt Davis
26 Nathan Wilde
22 Jack Hughes
18th man (not used)
21 Gareth O’Brien
Also in 21-man squad
13 Isaac Liu
20 AJ Towse
32 Jack Ashworth

Tries: Trout (50), Senior (66)
Goals: Cook 0/2

TRINITY
1 Max Jowitt
21 Jayden Myers
3 Cameron Scott
4 Corey Hall
5 Tom Johnstone
6 Jake Trueman
7 Mason Lino
8 Mike McMeeken
9 Tyson Smoothy
34 Emre Guler
26 Zac Lipowicz
18 Isaiah Vagana
13 Jazz Tevaga
Subs (all used)
14 Jay Pitts
16 Caius Faatili
17 Harvey Smith
25 Jordan Williams
18th man (not used)
20 Jack Sinfield
Also in 21-man squad
10 Ky Rodwell
15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele
19 Lachlan Walmsley

Tries: Johnstone (4, 19), Scott (77)
Goals: Jowitt 3/6
Field-goals: Trueman (39)
Sin bin: Lino (65) – holding down

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 0-13; 4-13, 8-13, 8-19

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Leopards: Innes Senior; Trinity: Max Jowitt

Penalty count: 3-10
Half-time: 0-13
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 8,868