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 step of revenge for their removal 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 2 late shots to provide a tight scoreline however a fourth defeat in 5 means they stay second from bottom.


They have been struck hard by early-season injuries, with head coach Adrian Lam revealing before kick-off he is down to 18 fit players, however they were architects of their own failure 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 an upper hand.


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


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


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


But after Caius Faatili spilled belongings in a take on by Liam Horne from the kick-off, Leigh penalized Trinity with full-back Gareth O'Brien forcing his way over for the try to keep them in touch.


Myers extended Wakefield's lead within 2 minutes of the 2nd half beginning, as O'Brien stopped working to handle Tyson Smoothy's chip through and presented the try to the winger after Faatili's farming kick on the last tackle had actually triggered confusion in the Leigh ranks.


from Max Jowitt denied 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 also undertook from Frankie Halton dismissed for a knock-on by Horne on a hectic night for video referee Liam Moore.


But the loss of Hughes to the sin-bin, for a take on off the ball just after the hour, showed crucial as Wakefield took advantage of the extra man with Ollie Pratt discussing in the 64th minute.


Josh Charnley pulled a shot back with 10 minutes left from Adam Cook's pass - his 258th in Super League - but despite the fact that Jacob Alick-Wiencke crossed with 30 seconds left, the visitors disappointed finishing a return win.


'Pretty average efficiency' - response


Wakefield manager Daryl Powell informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"2 points is 2 points but I thought it was a beautiful typical efficiency. We were so unfavorable at the start and got belted for area in the 2nd half when our discipline was quite poor.


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


"We can play better than that, we need to play better than that, we have to improve 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 told BBC Radio Manchester:


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


"It's really hard to compete when it's like that however 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 objectives we tie the video game but it wasn't to be.


"We're there or thereabouts but a long way away - that's how it feels at the minute.


"We only had 11 players train today. We're doing our finest. We simply need to discover a win along the way so next week ends up being really, truly important to us.


"It's tough work at the minute however there's no requirement 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