Leigh end long wait for win at Warrington

Betfred Super League

Warrington Wolves (12)

Goals: Ratchford 2

Leigh Leopards (10) 34

Leigh Leopards’ victory at Warrington is more depressing, adding more misery to Wolves head coach Sam Burgess.

Warrington lost its sixth game in seven games after Wolves chairman Stuart Middleton had publicly supported former England dual-code international Burgess following his defeat by a Leigh side that was chasing a home elimination final.

Leigh were largely unaffected by the eighth-placed Wolves thanks to Keanan Brand and Matt Davis scoring points with 10-0 in the first half, despite the 36-year-old himself saying that he was “truly believing” in what he can do as Warrington manager.

Leigh won their first away game against Warrington since 17-10 Stones Bitter Championship victory at the Wire’s former home ground of Wilderspool in April 1987, and Brand added two more tries for his hat-trick.

The hosts conceded a penalty with their first touch, when Marc Sneyd’s kick to the start of the match sailed straight into touch, as a way to sum up the Wolves’ woes.

After being given possession of the ball on the halfway line to begin the game’s first set, Leigh and Warrington had to wait until the halfway point before Brand dived over in the right corner after Hanley let him free at the end of a powerful passing move.

Leon Hayes, who was only playing his second game back after a 15-month injury layoff, was forced to leave with a suspected broken arm, which only made things worse for Wolves.

Warrington struggled to recover from handling errors as they attempted to regain control of the game, but they succeeded in holding Leigh to just one more try before the break, which Davis scored with a clever kick from Edwin Ipape under the posts.

Leigh’s early second-half try was turned down by Jack Hughes, but Brand’s added try put Adrian Lam’s side in a comfortable position shortly after.

Changes: Thomas, Wood, Holroyd, Powell, Holroyd, and others

Hodgson, Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, O’Brien, Lam, Pene, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Hughes, Liu, and Brand are Leigh Leopards.

Trout, Tuitavake, Davis, and Dwyer are exchanges.