Wigan Warriors Reserves 26 Leeds Rhinos Reserves 60

By Guy Harvey

Chev Walker’s Reserve side travelled West to face Wigan Warriors after suffering their first defeat last time out on the road to Hull FC with Wigan also only suffering a single defeat so far this season. But with both sides with a sprinkle first team experience involved it promised to be a great spectacle of Rugby League. But with a brace of tries from Diskin, Thomas, Pressell and Clark-Wood the Rhinos made it an easy day.

Leeds was straight out of the blocks with a breakthrough down the middle from a great pass from Jacob Stead found dummy half Joe Diskin who raced away to score under the posts with Sinfield adding the extra two. Leeds extended their lead seconds later when Jack Smith found space down the right edge to race the length of the field almost before finding Ethan Clark-Wood on his inside shoulder to beat the full back and the centre scoring the try, again Sinfield adding the extras and the Rhinos had a 12-0 lead inside five minutes!

With only eight minutes on the clock the Rhinos added even more points to the scoreboard this time prop Jacob Stead crashing over from close range in typical front row fashion and it is safe to say at this point the Warriors looked as though they were still in the changing rooms! Sinfield added another conversion and Leeds were 18-0 up with only ten minutes gone.

A minute later and the Rhinos found themselves extending their lead again when dummy half Diskin grabbed his second of the game when Leeds broke through the Warriors defence again but with full back to beat Diskin took possession and scored under the posts and another conversion from Sinfield put Leeds 24-0 up with only twelve minutes on the clock!

It took Leeds slightly longer this time before adding more points, but it was Harley Thomas that crossing for the try, with quick hands in the middle pushing the ball to the right finding the full back Thomas who took it upon himself to hit the line and charging his way over to score again Sinfield adding the extras. Wigan hit back minutes later however when Kian McDermott crashed over from close range and Nathan Lowe added the extra two.

Leeds responded quickly however when Diskin saw a gap in the defensive line and raced through it and with just the fullback to beat found his own fullback in support in the shape of Harley Thomas who raced on to score his second of the game! Sinfield adding another two points and Leeds were 36-6 ahead before the half hour mark.

Leeds weren’t finishd there though, seconds later winger Elliott Wallis scored after evading two would be tacklers before touching down and Sinfield adding the extra two. But with four minutes left Leeds scored again with loose forward Presley Cassell hitting a great line and breaking down the middle but with full back to beat a great dummy pass sent the full back one way before he went the other to touch down under the posts, Sinfield keeping his kicking record at 100%. And with the half time whistle about to sound Leeds were awarded a penalty which they opted to kick at goal pushing them to 50 points at the half.

The second half started a lot tighter however although it was the Rhinos scoring first after fifteen minutes when loose forward Cassell grabbed his second of the game twisting his way over close to the line, Sinfield adding the extra two. Wigan hit back then in the shape of winger Josh Cartwright diving over in the right corner, but the conversion missed.

Ethan Clark-Wood then grabbed his second of the game midway through the second half flying over in the right corner to extend the Rhinos advantage, but Sinfield could not add the extras missing his first of the game. The second a lot quieter on the points scoring side of things although that could be a given thanks to the poor completion record from both sides.

Wigan scored next when winger Lewis Daniels squeezed down the left edge to score untouched but again Wigan missing their conversion attempt. Leeds now tiring in defence allowed Wigan to score again when Harvie Hill crashed over from close range but with Nathan Lowe adding the extras Wigan moved to 20 points in response of Leeds’ 60.

But with time ticking down Wigan had one more score in them with prop Harvie Hill scoring again taking an inside pass fooling the Rhinos defence to score untouched with Lowe adding the extra two points making the score 26-60 to the Rhinos who took home the big win over old rivals Wigan Warriors.

Teams

Leeds Rhinos Reserves

1. Harley Thomas, 2. Jack Smith, 3. Ethan Clark-Wood, 4. Marcus Qareqare, 5. Elliot Wallis, 6. Jack Sinfield, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Joe Butterfield, 9. Joe Diskin, 10. Jacob Stead, 11. Oliver Smart, 12. Zak Lloyd, 13. Presley Cassell

Subs: 14. Shane Tuohey, 15. Oscar Brown, 16. Noah Whittingham, 17. Jayemm Oladipupo

Tries: Joe Diskin (2, 11), Ethan Clark-Wood (4, 63), Jacob Stead (8), Thomas (18, 28), Wallis (33), Cassell (36, 53)

Goals: Jack Sinfield x10