Wakefield Contribute 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' poor start to the Super League project continued.


Leigh, who ended up third last season, scored two late tries to deliver a tight scoreline however a 4th defeat in 5 methods they stay second from bottom.


They have actually been hit hard by early-season injuries, with head coach Adrian Lam revealing before kick-off he is down to 18 fit gamers, however they were designers of their own downfall at the DIY Kitchens Stadium with their indiscipline.


A second-half sin-binning for Jack Hughes after they had actually yielded a stream of first-half charges offered Trinity a leg up.


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 impressive Samoan outside Isaac Liu near to the Leigh line to review.


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


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


But after Caius Faatili spilled belongings in a take on by Liam Horne from the kick-off, Leigh punished Trinity with full-back Gareth O'Brien forcing his way over for the try to keep them in touch.


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


Brilliant defence from Max Jowitt rejected 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 also had a try from Frankie Halton eliminated for a knock-on by Horne on a busy night for video referee Liam Moore.


But the loss of Hughes to the sin-bin, for a deal with off the ball just after the hour, showed vital as Wakefield took advantage of the additional male with Ollie Pratt going over 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 disappointed finishing a return win.


'Pretty typical efficiency' - response


Wakefield employer Daryl Powell informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"2 points is two points however I believed it was a beautiful typical performance. We were so unfavorable at the start and got belted for area in the second half when our discipline was quite bad.


"Leigh were excellent, with the injuries they've got, and we didn't back up what we did recently - sometimes that happens when you've had a big win.


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


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


Leigh head coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:


"There were some things that actually injured us. The charge count I believe was 7-1 at half-time which was just outrageous.


"It's really tough to complete when it's like that but we hung in there. I'm happy of them for competing right to the very end.


"It was three tries all at the end. If we kick our objectives we tie the video game however it wasn't to be.


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


"We only had 11 players train this week. We're doing our finest. We just need to find a win along the method so next week becomes really, truly important to us.


"It's effort at the moment but 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