It was the game which almost didn’t happen due to a behind
the scenes, and then very public, argument between Leopards owner Derek
Beaumont and Warriors chief Executive Kris Radlinski, the elimination semi-final
between second placed Wigan Warriors and the Leigh Leopards who ended the regular
season just below them in third.
It was now up to the players to do their talking on the
pitch with Wigan as the slight favourites, being handicapped four points on the
coupon.
The winners would be gracing Old Trafford in eight days’
time against either Hull KR or St Helens, the loser would be crushed at their
season ending within touching distance of the game’s showpiece event.
Owen Trout was the first man to test the opponents’ line
when he collected a grubber and rolled over the line but was unable to ground
in the view of the on-field official and video referee.
A Leigh error on Thirteen did lead to the opening try,
Bailey Hodgson was returning the ball from his own ten metre line but spilled
the ball in the impact, the loose ball picked up by Adam Keighran and passed
outside to Bevan French to accelerate under the sticks.
Leigh were back on level terms on twenty-seven, Robbie
Mulhern taking a short Edwin Ipape pass to go through a gap and dive over from
five metres out. Gareth O’Brien added the conversion for 6-6.
On thirty-seven Ipape obstructed French as he chased down a
high kick, Keighran gratefully accepting the invitation to edge his side back
into a narrow lead. Three seconds before the half time hooter the Warriors
carved through a Leigh defence who were already in the sheds. The fifty metre
try went through half a dozen pairs of hands before Jai Field found French in
support to again go under the sticks to give Keighran a simple conversion for
14-6.
Wigan seemingly in control of the game at the interval.
A mix up in the Wigan defence, followed by Harry Smith
putting an attempted touchline kick out on the full gifted Leigh an attacking
position but the Wigan defence muscled up and defended the set.
Brad Dwyer went close on the hour mark but Leigh couldn’t
find their way to the line, it was clear that the visitors weren’t going to die
wondering.
But try as they might, they couldn’t turn possession and
position into points.
After the final hooter the Warriors kept the ball alive, Sam
Walters on hand to pick up a sloppy pass and dive over. As it made no
difference to the outcome the Warriors elected not to take the kick for a final
score of 18-6.
Wigan make it to the Grand Final as they look for a third
consecutive victory, in their fourteenth appearance at the flag ship event.
Leigh had a great season but ended it with nothing but memories, at least Derek
Beaumont won’t need to worry about his teams ticket allocation.
Wigan Warriors: Field, Miski, Keighran (G 3/3), Wardle,
Marshall, French (2T), Smith, Byrne, O’Neill, Thompson, Walters (T), Farrell,
Ellis. Subs: Havard, Nsemba, Mago, Leeming. 18th Man: Hill.
Leigh Leopards: Hodgson, Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, O’Brien
(G 1/1), Lam, Ofahenguae, Ipape, Mulhern (T), Halton, Trout, Liu. Subs: Hughes,
Tuitavake, Davis, Dwyer. 18th Man: McNamara.
Half-Time: 14-6.
Full-Time: 18-6.
Score Progression: 4-0,
6-0, 6-4, 6-6, 8-6, 12-6, 14-6 : HT: 18-6
:FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wigan – Square - Wigan.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
