Wakefield Contribute To Leigh's Early-season Woes

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Wakefield (8) 18


Tries: Tevaga, Myers, Pratt Goals: Jowitt 3


Leigh (4) 14


Tries: O'Brien, Charnley, Alick-Wiencke Goal: Cook


Wakefield exacted a procedure of vengeance for their elimination by Leigh in last season's play-offs as the Leopards' bad start to the Super League project continued.


Leigh, who ended up third last season, scored two late tries to deliver a tight scoreline however a fourth defeat in 5 ways they stay second from bottom.


They have been hit hard by early-season injuries, with head coach Adrian Lam revealing before kick-off he is down to 18 fit players, but they were architects of their own downfall at the DIY Kitchens Stadium with their indiscipline.


A second-half sin-binning for Jack Hughes after they had actually yielded a stream of first-half penalties gave Trinity a leg up.


Wakefield led 8-4 at the break. Loose forward Jazz Tevaga provided the lead with his very first shot for the club in the 11th minute, with some late footwork taking the remarkable Samoan outside Isaac Liu near the Leigh line to review.


Leigh came close in the 19th minute but Tom Johnstone, making his 200th career appearance, prevented stand-in centre Hughes grounding the ball over the line.


Wakefield's Jayden Myers had actually a shot prohibited for a foot in touch as he introduced himself in at the right-hand corner after some fine defence from Innes Senior.


But after Caius Faatili spilled ownership in a deal with by Liam Horne from the kick-off, Leigh punished Trinity with full-back Gareth O'Brien requiring his method over for the shot to keep them in touch.


Myers extended Wakefield's lead within 2 minutes of the 2nd half beginning, as O'Brien failed to deal with Tyson Smoothy's chip through and provided the shot to the winger after Faatili's agricultural kick on the last tackle had triggered confusion in the Leigh ranks.


Brilliant defence from Max Jowitt rejected first Tesi Niu, as the full-back got his body under the centre as he crossed the line, and then Senior in the corner.


Leigh likewise undertook from Frankie Halton dismissed for a knock-on by Horne on a busy night for video referee Liam Moore.


But the loss of Hughes to the sin-bin, for a tackle off the ball just after the hour, showed crucial as Wakefield maximized the additional guy with Ollie Pratt reviewing in the 64th minute.


pulled a shot back with 10 minutes left from Adam Cook's pass - his 258th in Super League - however although Jacob Alick-Wiencke crossed with 30 seconds left, the visitors fell short of finishing a resurgence win.


'Pretty typical performance' - response


Wakefield employer Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:


"2 points is two points however I believed it was a lovely typical performance. We were so unfavorable at the start and got belted for territory in the 2nd half when our discipline was quite bad.


"Leigh were terrific, with the injuries they have actually got, and we didn't back up what we did last week - sometimes that takes place when you've had a big win.


"We can play better than that, we have to play better than that, we have to enhance and discover some lessons from it.


"We had 33% territory in the second half and their line speed and intent was a little bit better than ours throughout the 80 minutes."


Leigh head coach Adrian Lam informed BBC Radio Manchester:


"There were some things that actually harmed us. The penalty count I believe was 7-1 at half-time which was simply outrageous.


"It's really difficult to compete when it's like that but we hung in there. I take pride in them for completing right to the very end.


"It was three tries all at the end. If we kick our goals we tie the game but it wasn't to be.


"We exist or thereabouts but a long method away - that's how it feels at the minute.


"We just had 11 players train this week. We're doing our best. We just have to find a win along the way so next week ends up being truly, actually crucial to us.


"It's effort at the minute however there's no need to panic."


Wakefield: Jowitt; Myers, Scott, Pratt, Johnstone; Sinfield, Trueman; McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga.


Interchanges: Storton, Pitts, Hamlin-Eule, Faatili.


Leigh: O'Brien; Senior, Niu, Hughes, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Trout, McNamara, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.


Interchanges: Brogan, Brown, Davis, Horne.


Referee: Chris Kendall.


Leigh Leopards