Warriors see off champions
Tries from George Carmont, Harrison Hansen and the Tomkins brothers saw Wigan Warriors recover from 10-0 down to defeat Super League champions Leeds 28-10 at the JJB.
Danny McGuire and Scott Donald had given Leeds a 10-0 advantage they more than deserved, but Carmont's 36-minute reponse gave the Warriors hope going in to the break.
And the second half was all Warriors as Hansen's score edged his side ahead, before both Joel and man-of-the-match Sam Tomkins crossed to seal the points in front of a massive crowd of 20,295.
With the pre-match build-up reaching fever pitch for "The Big One", the start could not have been more anti-climatic for Wigan as Paul Prescott dropped the ball on the very first tackle.
And the Rhinos created the first opening with less than four minutes gone when Jamie Jones-Buchanan released McGuire down the middle, and the stand-off raced 70 metres before being caught by Amos Roberts five metres short.
Prescott then made amends for his error with a bone-crunching tackle on Kylie Leuluai that somehow stopped the big man a yard short off McGuire's crash ball.
The Rhinos took the lead midway through the first half when Danny Buderus and Rob Burrow sent McGuire in, with Kevin Sinfield converting for a 6-0 lead.
Then, after Cameron Phelps had snuffed out a fine break by Mike Ratu, quick hands right allowed Donald to score in the corner four minutes later and the Rhinos were flying.
Iafeta Paleaaesina gave the Warriors hope with a couple of barnstorming runs but in general they were playing second fiddle.
The home side desperately needed a response before the break, and they got it when Carmont picked up a lovely inside ball from Phelps to score a try that Pat Richards improved.
And the Warriors began the second half in similar fashion with Sam Tomkins slipped Carmont through with an inside flick and, although Leuluai could not take the pass, Hansen pounced on the loose ball inches before the dead-ball line.
Richards' conversion put Wigan ahead for the first time, and the Warriors were almost in again shortly after when Richards knocked on a high kick from Phelps with the line begging, although the official awarded a penalty for the winger being tackled in the air by Donald.
Wigan were not to be denied, though, and they took advantage of sustained pressure by scoring their third try midway through the second half to open up an 18-10 lead.
After Jones-Buchanan was penalised for trying to relieve Lee Mossop of his head, hooker Mark Riddell found Joel Tomkins on the short ball to go in for a try that Richards again converted.
Leeds were dealt another blow with 13 minutes remaining when influential hooker Buderus was stretchered off after a collision with Coley, who was replaced himself at the break in play after a sterling shift.
And Wigan sealed their win with an electric fourth touchdown seven minutes from time, when Richards broke from dummy half, found Leuluai in support and the Kiwi handed on to Sam Tomkins to race over next to the posts.
Richards tagged on the conversion and two late penalties as the home fans looked forward to next week's derby with St Helens.
Coach Brian Noble had drafted in Mark Flanagan at loose-forward for his first Super League start in place of the injured Phil Bailey.
Wigan were otherwise unchanged from the come-from-behind victory at Bradford last week, as they went in search of their fifth win a row.
Wigan: Phelps; Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards; S Tomkins, Leuluai; Coley, Riddell, Prescott, J Tomkins, Hansen, Flanagan. Subs: Goulding, Fielden, Paleaaesina, Mossop.
Leeds: Smith; Donaldo, Ratu, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield. Subs: Diskin, Lauitiiti, Burgess, Worrall.
Referee: Phil Bentham.
Attendance 20,295.
See Saturday's Wigan Evening Post for match reaction and photographs.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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