 First against third as the Leeds Rhinos travelled to the DW Stadium to take on the Wigan Warriors, the side who beat them 27-12 the last time they met in Newcastle.
Wigan's ranks were bolstered by several returning stars including skipper Sean O'Loughlin but the Rhinos were forced to re-organise after losing Zak Hardaker to suspension, Stevie Ward and Mitch Garbutt to a back injury, the latter suffered in training after the Australian had made an impressive performance in his debut last week.
The home side were favourites with the bookies with the Rhinos being given a six point start on the handicap coupon.
Both sides spurned early chances, the Rhinos opting to run on the last against a strong Wigan defence. On ten minutes Paul Aiton took advantage of a quick play-the-ball on the Wigan line to move left and dive over. Kevin Sinfield kicked the extras for a 6-0 lead for the Rhinos.
Wigan responded within three minutes with a great seventy metre try when Dan Sarginson broke down the wing before kicking forward, the ball bouncing perfectly into the hands of Liam Farrell who ran the remaining twenty to score by the sticks. Matty Smith kicked the extras to level the scores.
Two minutes later and the lead was Wigans. Skipper Sean O'Loughlin pushed over the line and managed to reach down and ground while Kallum Watkins effort was all in dragging him dead in goal. Smith was again accurate with the boot.
On twenty-six Paul Aiton picked up a suicidal Wigan offload and as Leeds moved downfield Adam Cuthbertson put in a delayed pass to Brad Singleton to stretch over. Sinfield's goal levelled the scores at 12-12.
With thirty minutes on the clock it looked like Danny McGuire had culminated a sensational Leeds passing move scampering over next to the posts, but the video referee determined that Kallum Watkins had obstructed the Wigan defence in the build up and the try was chalked off.
It was Wigan who took the lead again three minutes after the Leeds disallowed try when a George Williams try was collected in goal by Matty Bowen and he dropped to the ground to score, giving Smith a simple conversion giving his side an 18-12 lead at the interval.
When Wigan were given head and feed from one of their own knock-on's the home side took full advantage of the referees error when on the second tackle Smith put a kick to the corner which was picked up by Josh Charnley to ground in the corner. Smith converted brilliantly from the touchline for 24-12.
Leeds reduced the deficit with an Ash Handley try, touching down a pinpoint Sinfield kick to the corner. Sinfield goaled from the right touchline and the margin was back to one converted try.
With just over three minutes left the Rhinos were back level when Matty Smith was penalised for holding down on Carl Ablett. Leeds worked to the posts before Robbie Burrow jinked past three Wigan tacklers to,over from dummy half. Sinfield added the extras and it was 24-24 with two minutes left.
There were just forty-five seconds on the clock when Paul Aiton blocked an attempted tackle on Carl Ablett. Matty Smith accepted the offer of two points from thirty-eight metres out to win the match for his side by just two points.
All credit to Wigan who rode their luck to pick up the two points, especially after last weeks disappointment against Warrington. They made the most of their opportunities and muscled up in defence to deny the Rhinos.
It was a spirited fightback by the Rhinos who came back from twelve points behind and looked like they had secured a deserved point. A last-minute moment of madness from Paul Aiton will grab the headlines but a disallowed first half McGuire try and a Wigan score after they had knocked-on will have the Rhinos fans fuming all the way back to Headingley.
The race for top spot is wide open again, the Rhinos need to win both their remaining games at home against Salford and the Catalans to finish top of the pile but Wigan and Saints will be there waiting for any Rhinos slip-up.
Warriors: Bowen (T), Charnley (T), Bateman, Sarginson, Burgess, Williams, Smith (5G), Crosby, McIlorum, Flower, Tomkins, Farrell (T), O'Loughlin (T). Subs: Clubb, Mossop, Tautai, Patrick.
Rhinos: Watkins, Handley (T), Keinhorst, Moon, Hall, Sinfield (4G), McGuire, Leuluai, Aiton (T), Peacock, Delaney, Ablett, Cuthbertson. Subs: Singleton (T), Yates, Burrow (T), Walters.
Referee: Richard Silverwood
Attendance: 15.009 |
