Betfred Super League
Leigh (16) 28
Tries: Armstrong, Lam, Senior, Ofahengaue, Hanley Goals: Cook 4
Warrington (6) 12
Tries: Sipley, Hopoate Goals: Irwin 2
Leigh Leopards made it five successive victories as they out-muscled fellow play-off contenders Warrington Wolves.
Victory moved Leigh up one place to fifth, above last year’s champions Hull KR, and now level on points with the Wolves, who suffered a third defeat in four matches this month.
Early tries from David Armstrong and Lachlan Lam gave the Leopards control and they never really relinquished it.
Toafofoa Sipley crossed for Warrington but further tries from Innes Senior, Joe Ofahengaue and Umyla Hanley either side of the break moved the hosts out of sight before a late consolation for Albert Hopoate.
And with Leigh still having five of their last seven games to play at home, they do not look like going away in the race for the top six.
Since losing to Warrington in successive weeks in April in Super League and the Challenge Cup, the Leopards had won 10 out of 12 games, including victory over the Wire at Magic Weekend three weeks ago and they were out of the traps strongly.
Lam’s pass found Armstrong hitting the line well from full-back as he sold a dummy and found a gap to the tryline.
The scrum-half was then the recipient of fine play, supporting Umyla Hanley after he had broken through the defence to run under the posts.
The Wolves got themselves on the scoreboard thanks to the might of Sipley as three defenders could not keep out the Niue prop at close range.
However, Leigh made it a two-score game again right on half-time as Senior finished off in the left corner after more good work in the line from the half-backs.
The second period saw no quarter given and both sides lost a player to the sin-bin in the early stages. Super League’s record try scorer Josh Charnley was penalised for head contact on Toby King, while Warrington scrum-half Leon Hayes joined him for a dangerous tackle on Owen Trout.
And with emotions running high, Ofahengaue profited as sheer brute force saw him force his way over.
Moments later, the contest was settled as Hanley scored a try that legendary father Ellery would have been proud of as a combination of strength, footwork and handling skills took him past a clutch of defenders in a small space.
With their defence relishing the battle, it was a good tune-up for the visit of neighbours Wigan Warriors on Friday (20:00).
Hopoate’s try came too late in this one to make any difference for Warrington and they will have to regroup ahead of their trip to Castleford Tigers the following day to regain momentum in the play-off battle.
Leigh: Armstrong; Senior, Hughes, Hanley, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Horne, Liu, Halton, Trout, Brogan.
Interchanges: Vaalepu, Davis, Brown, Ipape.
Sin-bin: Charnley (49)
Warrington: Webster; Hopoate, Smith, King, Ashton; Irwin, Hayes; Byrne, Walker, Thomas, Holroyd, Harrison, Currie.
Interchanges: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Bentley.
Sin-bin: Hayes (52)
Referee: Marcus Griffiths.
