Leigh produce stunning fightback

Leigh Centurions 18 - 8 Wigan Warriors 

Leigh Leopards produced three unanswered second-half tries to beat their high-flying neighbours Wigan Warriors to move up to third in the Super League. 

Author | Amy W

Wigan looked to be in control after an early well-worked try from Jake Wardle and an Adam Keighran penalty on the stroke of half-time gave them an 8-0 lead in the third ‘Battle of the Borough’ this season.

But Leigh responded after the break, with Tesi Niu crossing early in the second half before Edwin Ipape finished a slick team move in testing, greasy conditions to put the hosts in front for the first time. Owen Trout, called up for England's training squad earlier this week, sealed the victory with a late try to cap a memorable evening for Adrian Lam’s side.

The Leopards could be dislodged from third if Leeds Rhinos beat leaders Hull KR on Sunday, but this win moves them within three points of champions Wigan.

A closer look at what happened

Leigh’s night had started with a setback, as Lam confirmed full-back David Armstrong faces nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury. The Australian, who has scored eight tries in 15 appearances since arriving from NRL side Newcastle Knights, had initially been included in the squad despite limping through last week’s defeat to Leeds.

Bailey Hodgson stepped in at full-back, while an injury to Darnell McIntosh meant a first appearance in six weeks for 34-year-old former England international Josh Charnley.

READ MORE | News from across Wigan

READ MORE | Latest Rugby League match reports and more

Wigan struck early, with Wardle latching onto a sharp cut-out pass from Jai Field to score his first try since their previous victory over Leigh in May. The centre’s return to form came in the same week he was called into England’s training squad, with national coach Shaun Wane demanding greater intensity from Super League’s leading names ahead of this autumn’s Test series against Australia.

Wane had called for a fierce, low-scoring contest and the derby delivered. Leigh were left frustrated in the first half, with Frankie Halton unable to ground a grubber from Ipape and Charnley spurning a promising chance after breaking clear.

The turning point came when Harry Smith’s 40-20 attempt drifted long, handing Leigh possession in Wigan territory. The hosts capitalised, with Tonga international Niu weaving over from close range following neat play from Ipape and Lachlan Lam.

Ipape then finished off a flowing move, with the ball passing through several pairs of hands before Umyla Hanley released him to score under the posts.

Charnley thought he had marked his return with a landmark 250th Super League try, only to see it ruled out. But Leigh’s pressure eventually told in the final minute, as Trout pounced on a defensive fumble from Wigan to wrap up a hard-fought and significant victory.