A tense round five matchup at AMT Headingley ended in favour of Leeds Rhinos as Brad Arthur’s side rallied to secure a 12-10 win over Wigan Warriors.

Riley Lumb’s first half try and penalty goal from Jake Connor gave the home side a slender lead, before a Wigan fightback looked to steal the two league points on offer. Substitute Jack Sinfield made sure that didn’t happen though as his try with 13 minutes to go was enough to see Leeds over the line.

Arthur’s sole change for the game was at hooker as Jarrod O’Connor came back into the side in the place of the injured Andy Ackers. Tom Holroyd was also a welcomed return on the bench to add another prop option alongside Sam Lisone. The day belonged to club legend Ryan Hall, who marked his 500^th career appearance by starting on the wing.

The arm wrestle began from the first minute as both sides threw themselves into battle. Wigan’s Liam Marshall did well to wriggle free to set Jake Wardle away for the game’s first opportunity, but Leeds full back Lachie Miller brought down Kruise Leeming to shut down the attack. Shifting their attention down the opposite end of the field, the Rhinos were able to take their scoring chance as a high kick from Jake Connor was fumbled by Jacob Douglas, and Leeds’ James Bentley was on hand to collect the ball and feed Riley Lumb for a simple finish to make the score 4-0.

Both sides kept going from end to end as the crowd warmed to the occasion, and Leeds matched the tempo by bombarding Wigan’s defensive line. Brodie Croft toyed with the Wigan line all night and after he managed to win a penalty for holding down, Connor calmly slotted a penalty goal that would prove crucial by full-time.

Croft and Miller should have secured the Rhinos their second try as half time loomed, but Sam Lisone was brought down agonisingly short of the try line.

It was a sign for Wigan to rally, and they waited until the last play of the half to do so. The Warriors got some luck as Harry Smith’s kick came back off Ash Handley for a set restart, and a shift to the edge put Marshall in the corner to make the score 6-4 at the break.

An early second-half try for Wigan put the game on a knife-edge as Bevan French found his way over after sustained pressure on the Leeds defensive line.

The Rhinos responded positively from going behind as back-to-back chances saw Jake Connor take a chip kick short of the line and Riley Lumb get across for what the winger thought was his second try. To the winger’s dismay, referee Jack Smith called a pass in the build-up as forward and the score was chalked off.

With the game reaching its climax, the man of the moment Ryan Hall had his hand (or head to be specific) in getting the all-important score to send the home side into raptures. Wigan found themselves on the back foot as Marshall was forced to intervene to deny Hall a potential try, but on the next set, the winger rose highest and manage to head the ball into the arms of Jack Sinfield, who couldn’t believe his luck as he grounded the ball. The decision was referred to the video referee, who cleared any potential knock-ons and awarded the try. Connor’s kick sailed between the sticks, edging Leeds closer to victory.

Matt Peet’s side kept fighting until the very end but found themselves just short of finding a winner. Junior Nsemba thought he had secured the league points for the Cherry and Whites, but a forward pass from French saw the back-rower’s try disallowed. With the full AMT Headingley crowd behind them for the final two tense minutes though, the Rhinos steered themselves home to secure a 12-10 triumph.

Teams

Rhinos 

1. Lachie Miller, 23. Riley Lumb, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Ash Handley, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 18. Jake Connor, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 11. James Bentley, 12. James McDonnell, 10. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 19. Tom Holroyd, 20. Jack Sinfield, 16. Morgan Gannon, 15. Sam Lisone (18^th Man – 7. Matt Frawley)

Tries: Lumb (11), Sinfield (67)

Goals: Connor 2/3

Wigan

6. Bevan French, 2. Abbas Miski, 22. Zach Eckersley, 4. Jake Wardle, 5. Liam Marshall, 24. Jack Farrimond, 7. Harry Smith, 10. Luke Thompson, 17. Kruise Leeming, 16. Liam Byrne, 11. Junior Nsemba, 12. Liam Farrell, 13. Kaide Ellis

Subs: 15. Patrick Mago, 19. Tyler Dupree, 21. Sam Walters, 23. Tom Forber (18^th Man – 20. Harvie Hill)

Tries: Marshall (38), French (48)

Goals: Smith 1/2

Download official team sheet here