Wigan Warriors maintained the pressure on Warrington Wolves at the top of the Engage Super League in a tale of two halves. The champions retrieved an 18-12 half-time deficit with the help of a controversial try, although their second-half intensity was the crucial factor in suppressing an admirable Leeds Rhinos effort last night.
Pat Richards scored within a minute of the restart from a ridiculous forward pass by George Carmont, who followed up three minutes later with a try that brooked no argument, as Brett Finch and Ryan Hoffman, the former Melbourne duo, irresistibly combined down the left flank.
Richards tagged on his fourth conversion and added a penalty on the hour mark in putting Wigan two scores clear. However, they survived a scare six minutes from the end — once Zac Hardaker had claimed his second try on the Leeds right wing — when Danny McGuire knocked on in dribbling his way over.
The win kept Wigan a point behind Warrington, winners 48-18 away to Castleford Tigers, who visit the DW Stadium on Wednesday, when Wigan can re-establish themselves at the top in their game in hand on their rivals.
The Rhinos threw numbers into every tackle and were good value for their interval lead after a conservative opening. Kevin Sinfield’s fourth-minute penalty goal looked unnecessarily cautious but Leeds built on it.
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They were caught out by Brent Webb conceding a penalty for dissent and Josh Charnley easing over from Joel Tomkins’s offload, yet responded with three tries in 20 minutes. Webb atoned, sliding a kick for Ben Jones-Bishop to touch down on his return from a dislocated shoulder, then dummying the cover and reaching for the line after Richards lost possession in a challenge by Chris Clarkson.
Hoffman struck back for the home side as Richards palmed down a high kick by the outstanding Finch that outfoxed McGuire, before Carl Ablett tipped Rob Burrow’s pass for Hardaker to squeeze over for the first of his brace.
St Helens beat Hull 28-14 to stay in fourth place and Salford City Reds made it four wins in five by beating Harlequins 26-18.
Scorers: Wigan Warriors: Tries: Carmont, Charnley, Richards, Hoffman. Goals: Richards 5. Leeds Rhinos: Tries: Jones-Bishop, Hardaker 2, Webb. Goals: Sinfield 4.
Wigan Warriors: S Tomkins; J Charnley, J Tomkins, G Carmont, P Richards; B Finch, P Deacon; L Mossop, T Leuluai, J Lima, H Hansen, R Hoffman, S O’Loughlin. Interchange: P Prescott, C Tuson, M McIlorum, A Coley.
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Leeds Rhinos: B Webb; Z Hardaker, L Smith, C Ablett, B Jones-Bishop; K Sinfield, D McGuire; K Leuluai, D Buderus, J Peacock, J Jones-Buchanan, B Delaney, C Clarkson. Interchange: R Burrow, R Bailey, A Lauitiiti, I Kirke.
Referee: T Alibert.