Match Report

Leeds Rhinos 23 Wigan Warriors 16

Saturday 31st May 2008, Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

We do apoligise about this match report appearing on the site later than usual, although it was out of our hands because of a fire in one of SportNetwork's data centres, although it was available on our message board on Sunday morning. Also, more squad info, match info, match action and reaction will be available on the website later on tonight. And be sure to check out our other articles currently on the site. They include the post match press conference following the Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter final, Brent Webb's reaction on the game and his contract extension, and Tony Smith on Asians in rugby league, which is also appearing in this months copy of Code13 rugby league magazine, available from our online store now!

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Wigan posted the first points on the scoreboard when Leeds were penalised for being offside of their own twenty metre line. Richards elected to kick on only ninety seconds to give his side the lead, 2-0.

On four minutes, a penalty to Leeds, with Wigan offside, moved the Rhinos up the pitch. Sinfield played the ball to Diskin, who ran from dummy half, twisted, ivaded tackles, and scored beneath the posts. Sinfield added the extras to put the Rhinos in front, 6-4.

On the following sets, the Warriors continued their regular policy against Leeds of slowing the play the ball down.

But this didn’t stop the Rhinos: on thirteen minutes, Sinfield switches the play with a cross field kick. Donald leaps and captures the ball above Gulding, and appears to ground the ball. Silverwood went to the screen, only for Ashley Klein to deny Leeds. This seemed to inspire Wigan, who increased their attacking impetus, forcing a goal line drop out of fifteen minutes.

On twenty five minutes, Sinfield couldn’t get out of the way of the play the ball, and a penalty was awarded to the visitors. Inevitably, Richards went for the two. The score was now 6-4 to Leeds.

On twenty seven minutes, a Wigan high bomb was allowed to bounce. Webb jumped, miss controlled the ball, but still knocked it backwards. The ball bounced of a Wigan player, Burrow gathered it and accelerated through the middle, outstripping all the Warriors defenders, and dived over the line to score, after a running seventy metres. As expected, Kevin Sinfield converted to give Leeds an eight point lead.

But from here on in, with ten minutes remaining, it was Wigan who had the upper hand: forcing three goal line dropouts, the pressure finally told. Barrett’s cross field kick was challenge for by Calderwood and Donald. Donald appeared to catch it, but was tackled by the ex-Rhino’s winger Calderwood, and Richards. Calderwood seemed to steal and ground the ball whilst there were two men (Wigan) in the tackle. Indecisive Silverwood went to the big screen once more where Klein awarded the try. Richards found the boot to reduce the margin to two as the sides went in at half time.

The opening exchanges of the second half were dominated by Leeds. Burgess had a try disallowed for offside and Ellis dropped the ball whilst over the line. But Wigan had a chance too; a flowing move on Wigan’s left was completed by Richards, skipping through the Leeds defence. However, the Warriors were guilt of obstruction, and the try was disallowed.

On fifty eight minuted came the try of the game. Worral was tackled on the forty metres. Bailey stepped out of the way, to allow McGuire to take the play the ball. He ran from dummy half, and played a great ball to the the on-rushing Diskin, who found the gap before passing to the supporting Webb, who went over the whitewash beneath the posts. Sinfield obviously added the two on offer to give the Rhinos an eight point lead with less than twenty minutes remaining. 

In the last 15 minutes, what looked like an illegal play the ball by Wigan was ignored by the referee from Dewsbury. On the following play, Bailey charged down the kick and the tackle count was wiped. This seemed to unsettle the Leeds defence and Leuluai weaved through to score. Richards converted his sides second try to once again reduce to deficit to two, 18-16.

Wigan now had the momentum, with Paleaasina charging through the park. And it looked like the Rhinos dream of Wembley was over when Colbon was powering towards the corner. McGuire and Webb combined to bring the speedy winger down, right on the corner flag.

With the clock counting down (five minutes remaining), Hall diffused a bomb. From the twenty metre restart, Senior carries the ball thirty five metres, escaping three tackles, nearly four, on the way. Diskin to Burrow from the play the ball. Burrow is just pulled back as he breaks through. Then, Peacock carries it a further ten metres. A long, fast, spinning ball from Sinfield, cuts out pocket rocket Burrow, finds Ellis, who’s quick hands flick it wide to Donald who found himself free to go in on the corner, drawing in Wigan defenders. The man who has played every second of every game since he arrived at Headingley put the Rhinos through to the semi finals, one step closer to Wembley. Sinfield missed the conversion attempt, but the score was still in Leeds’ favour: 22-16.

With only a minute remaining on the board, it looked like McGuire was going to score, but he was tackled just short of the line. Webb went in at dummy half, found his sides captain who popped over the one pointer, making the game out of Wigan’s reach, and the final score 23-16, taking the Rhinos one step closer in the march to the arch. 

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