RUGBY LEAGUE: Leeds drop third game in four as Wigan hold on

13 April 2012

The significance of a Pat Richards drop goal on the interval hooter became clear only when Rob Burrow missed a penalty which would have won this enthralling Super League battle for Leeds with 20 seconds left.


Wigan 23pts Leeds 22pts

Burrow's kick, from 40 metres against a backcloth of noise from the Wigan supporters, faded to the left of the posts and the champions had lost for the third time in their last four games.

Flare-up: McGuire parts Peacock and Fielden

Flare-up: McGuire parts Peacock and Fielden

Whether the penalty should have been awarded in the first place, controversially by referee Ashley Klein for offside against Wigan's Andy Coley, no longer matters.

Of additional concern for Leeds is that their captain and first-choice goal kicker Kevin Sinfield had limped off with eight minutes left suffering from a medial ligament strain.

If it is a bad one, Sinfield will miss the Challenge Cup semifinal against St Helens at the end of the month.

'We are not prepared to say that at the moment,' said Leeds coach Brian McClennan. 'We're keeping our fingers crossed and we will know more tomorrow or probably on Monday. I am disappointed Rob was put in that position to try to win the game for us. We didn't lose it because he missed. We lost because we were indisciplined in the first half and went 17-0 down.'

Wigan had to survive a second- half siege by the champions. But how they love playing at home.

Denied that privilege for six weeks while the pitch was being repaired in preparation for another winter of football, they have lost only once in nine at home this season and they have five more games in front of their vociferous supporters as they make a charge to catch Leeds, St Helens and Catalans.

Coach Brian Noble was understandably delighted: 'I would have been very disappointed if we'd lost after the way we had played, particularly in the first half but I expected Leeds to come back at us because they are a champion team.'

Wigan knew they were going to have to dig deep last night if they were to complete a league double.

Short of forward power, including battering ram Iafeta Paleaaesina they were up against a Leeds side reinforced by the return of six players who helped England to demolish France in Toulouse a week ago.

But Wigan made Leeds look ordinary in the first half and for long periods the suspicions that they may have peaked too early, based on two recent defeats, were justified.

Leeds struggled to recover from Wigan's rip-roaring start which brought two tries from their recent Australian signing Cameron Phelps.

A third followed, from substitute back Liam Colbon, before Richards popped over a drop goal as the first half closed.

Leeds, with McGuire at his elusive best at stand off, led the fightback and it gathered momentum after Darrell Goulding had stretched Wigan's advantage to 23-6.

Ryan Hall, Keith Senior and Gareth Ellis shredded Wigan's nerves but Noble's men hung on for a memorable win.

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