Wakefield Add 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 procedure of vengeance for their removal by Leigh in last season's play-offs as the Leopards' bad start to the Super League campaign continued.


Leigh, who completed third last season, scored two late tries to provide a tight scoreline however a 4th defeat in 5 ways they remain second from bottom.


They have actually 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 conceded a stream of first-half penalties offered Trinity an upper hand.


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


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


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


But after Caius Faatili spilled possession in a deal with by Liam Horne from the kick-off, Leigh punished Trinity with full-back Gareth O'Brien forcing his method over for the shot to keep them in touch.


Myers stretched Wakefield's lead within 2 minutes of the second half starting, as O'Brien stopped working to handle Tyson Smoothy's chip through and presented the shot to the winger after Faatili's agricultural kick on the last deal with had actually caused confusion in the Leigh ranks.


Brilliant defence from Max Jowitt denied very first Tesi Niu, as the full-back got his body under the centre as he crossed the line, and after that Senior in the corner.


Leigh likewise 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 deal with off the ball simply after the hour, showed crucial as Wakefield maximized the extra man with Ollie Pratt discussing in the 64th minute.


Josh Charnley pulled a try back with 10 minutes left from Adam Cook's pass - his 258th in Super League - but even though Jacob Alick-Wiencke crossed with 30 seconds left, the visitors fell short of finishing a return win.


'Pretty typical efficiency' - response


Wakefield employer Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:


"2 points is two points but I thought it was a lovely average efficiency. We were so negative at the start and got belted for territory in the 2nd half when our discipline was quite poor.


"Leigh were terrific, with the injuries they've got, and we didn't support what we did last week - sometimes that occurs when you have actually had a big win.


"We can play better than that, we need to play much better than that, we need to enhance and discover some lessons from it.


"We had 33% territory in the second half and their line speed and intent was a little bit much better than ours throughout the 80 minutes."


Leigh head coach Adrian Lam informed BBC Radio Manchester:


"There were some things that truly injured us. The penalty count I believe was 7-1 at half-time which was simply outrageous.


"It's really tough to contend when it resembles that however we hung in there. I'm happy of them for completing right to the very end.


"It was 3 tries all at the end. If we kick our goals we tie the video game but it wasn't to be.


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


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


"It's hard work at the moment however there's no need 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

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