Reigning champions Wigan Warriors cruised to a dominant 38-0 victory over native rivals Leigh Leopards to ebook their place within the Tremendous League Grand Closing.
Wigan have been medical within the first half and pounced on each Leigh error, a Liam Marshall double, a Sam Walters effort, plus two conversions and a penalty from Adam Keighran giving the house group a strong 18-0 lead on the break, leaving the guests with all the pieces to do.
The Warriors shortly made the mountain too massive for the Leopards to climb, then rubbed salt within the wounds within the second half, with Walters’ second, a Keighran penalty and sensational Bevan French and Jai Subject particular person efforts cementing a dominant win.
Upon reflection, Leigh will rue an error-strewn efficiency, Wigan’s play-off expertise proving an excessive amount of to deal with for Adrian Lam’s aspect.
Wigan will now head to Outdated Trafford to tackle Hull KR on Saturday October 12, the Warriors trying to go back-to-back for the primary time of their historical past, the Robins out to win Tremendous League’s largest prize for the primary time.
Story of the sport
With a packed-out crowd in The Brick Group Stadium, over 20,000 followers creating an electrical environment, the ‘Battle of the Borough’ bought off to a thunderous begin, however the hosts settled faster and used their big-game expertise to their benefit.
After a knock-on from Matt Moylan trying to catch a kick, Wigan took their alternative within the eleventh minute, a miss move from Subject to Tremendous League’s prime strive scorer Marshall giving him acres of house to stroll in for the opening try to the 4-0 lead.
Indicative of Wigan’s early management over the match was their territory, having six play the balls within the opposition half in comparison with zero for Leigh.
It was Moylan as soon as once more who gave Wigan one other likelihood which they pounced on, a knock-on from an enormous Keighran sort out ending in Walters utilizing his sheer dimension and energy to stretch over for Wigan’s second within the nineteenth minute, Keighran changing this time to increase their benefit to 10-0.
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Sam Walters powers over to attain one other strive for Wigan and lengthen their lead within the semi-final
Leigh began to develop into the encounter however as they regarded like they have been going to attain, Abbas Miski got here up with an enormous try-saving interception, racing downfield and a penalty for offside being transformed into two factors with simply over 10 minutes remaining.
That knocked the wind out of the guests’ sails and one other knock-on, this time from Robbie Mulhern, gifted Wigan one other likelihood which they gladly took, their deadly edge placing once more for Marshall’s second and a dominant 18-0 lead at half-time.
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Wigan dominated Leigh within the first half as Marshall crossed for his second of the night time
Leigh’s lack of ability to offer themselves an opportunity continued early within the second half after they knocked on from the primary sort out, the error leading to Walters going by a gaping gap for his second, Keighran tacking on two extra for 24-0.
After a penalty then introduced the rating to 26-0, French confirmed his particular person brilliance to go over with 20 minutes remaining, his dancing footwork then a chip by ending with him diving over, Keighran changing as soon as once more for a commanding 32-0 lead.
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Walters scores his second strive of the night
With Leigh attempting to see out the rest of the match with out an excessive amount of additional punishment, Subject determined to rub salt within the wounds, his sheer tempo dazzling on the skin to wrap up a 38-0 victory and earn the Warriors’ place at Outdated Trafford as soon as once more.
It’s one other clear sheet for Wigan that sends a message to Hull KR forward of their enormous Grand Closing conflict, first and second from the common season battling it out on the largest stage.
What they mentioned
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Wigan Warriors Matt Peet displays on a dominate show to arrange the ultimate in opposition to Hull KR
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet on Sky Sports activities…
“We’re very pleased. You’re always nervous coming to a semi-final. Leigh have been in good form.
“I knew if we did not get the beginning proper, something might occur, so I used to be happy the best way we attacked the beginning of the sport, significantly. We managed it nicely.
“You come expecting a two-point game and you have to do a lot right, but we all know, if you do that and with the start to the second half, they weren’t going to make a game of it.
“It was definitely higher than I anticipated. Defensively we did lots proper, we have been extra linked and managed it.
“I also liked the way we expressed ourselves with the ball, but if you don’t get your defence right, your strengths can be your weaknesses.”
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Leigh Leopard’s head coach Adrian Lam displays on a troublesome night time the place his aspect have been dominated by Wigan
Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam on Sky Sports activities…
“Bit of a nightmare, wasn’t it?
“The best way that we turned the season round to get right here then that first half, we put ourselves below strain and we’ve not been like that for a very long time.
“Uncharacteristic, I can’t put a finger on it, but if you don’t complete against Wigan, six penalties against, you put pressure on yourselves and that is what happens.
“It has been a rollercoaster however we bought it proper in direction of the top.
“We took this club the furthest they have been in the Super League era so I am really proud of that.
“They’ve helped the DNA of this membership change and from three years in the past within the Championship to 80 minutes away from the Grand Closing, is an unimaginable journey and so they have all performed a large half in that.”
What’s subsequent?
The Tremendous League Grand Closing takes place at Outdated Trafford on Saturday October 12, reside on Sky Sports activities.
The match will kick-off at 6pm, with protection on Sky Sports activities from 5pm.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and can be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.
