Wigan Warriors run riot at the DW Stadium

DW Stadium was the venue for the battle of the borough where last years Super League runners-up Wigan host to winless Leigh.

You could sense the atmosphere around the ground before kick-off, the battle of the borough is one neither of the sides takes lightly. It was actually a game where it was crucial for both sides. Wigan needing to bounce back from their midweek defeat at Warrington and Leigh needed to find that first illusive victory.

The first try came in the fifth minute, Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai broke the Leigh defensive line to run clear to open the scoring. Harry Smith added the extras to make the score 6-0 in favour of the Warriors. In the opening exchanges, Leigh could not get a grip on the game, Jackson Hastings was influential pulling the strings from fullback for Wigan.

After a set restart in the eighth minute, it was Leigh’s first attack and they made it count. Liam Hood took advantage of a sleeping defence to dive over to level the scores. It didn’t take long till the Warriors regained the lead. This time, young Umyla Hanley dove in at the corner to make the scores 12-6. Just when it looked the game had calmed down, a brawl broke out as the two sets of players went into dismay!

Referee, Scott Mikalauskas had a fair bit to sort out, eventually showing red cards to Jack Ashworth of Leigh and Brad Singleton of Wigan. Barely twenty minutes played and fans had already got their money’s worth!

Wigan began to control proceedings once the game had settled down. Deep into the first half, Wigan showed their class with a break from rising star halfback Harry Smith. The ball was then shifted over to the left edge where England international Liam Farrell cruised in to stretch the scoreline to 18-6

The extra efforts from the visitors weren’t coming off. Every time Leigh got into Wigan’s half, they couldn’t find a way through the rugged defensive line of the Warriors. Once again, the story of the game was Wigan’s number twenty, Smith. He worked his magic through the middle to eventually feed the line as young winger Hanley, scored his second try of the game.

Before the break, Wigan went over again to give themselves a commanding 28-6 lead at Half time.

The second half continued the way the first ended, the home side on the front foot. The Warriors were extremely comfortable. Leigh did have the opportunity to pull a try back four minutes into the second half with repeat sets on the Wigan line but the Warriors stood firm in defence. Something that pleased coach Adrian Lam.

Three sets back to back for Wigan on the Centurions line were well defended by the visitors. At times in the second half, Leigh were very resilient at times, making it hard for Wigan to add to their first half points tally.

Persistence paid off for the home side, Wigan finally cracked the Leigh defensive line scoring the first try of the second half. Another young winger, Sam Halsall scored his first try for the club. Halsall, who came into the side late in the warm-up after Oliver Gildart suffered a minor injury. Smith added the extras, scoring his fifth conversion of the game making the score 34-6.

Wigan are very well known for breeding fantastic young players and they were all on show in the game. Forward, Joe Shorrocks was the next man to get his name on the scoresheet but not without a piece of brilliance from another youngster, Amir Bourough broke the line prior to the try being scored.

In the quieter moments of the game, Wigan began to turn on the style. Young Halsall this time turned provider, sending Hastings in for his first try of the game to the delight of the home supporters.

Wigan hit the fifty points mark in the closing stages. A hat-trick try from Hanley finished things at the DW Stadium. Ending the score Wigan 50-6 Leigh Centurions.

A very tough day at the office for Leigh, as yet again they fall to defeat but the skill and craft shown by the Warriors was on display for all to see and will be beneficial for them as they continue to climb up the play-off places.