26/11/09 05:23 GMT
  £30 Free Bet Super League Betting Latest Odds Sky Games Competitions Mobile
 
WIGAN REPORTS 2007
Picture Mcguire in action against Wigan.

Leeds 36 Wigan 6

By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport Rugby League Correspondent

Click here to bet on rugby league with Sky Bet!
Click here for rugby league fixtures
Click here for rugby league results
Click here for more rugby league news

Leeds demonstrated a ruthless streak to bring an end to Wigan's daring play-off run and book a meeting with defending champions St Helens in the Super League Grand Final.

Captain Kevin Sinfield kicked 16 points as the Rhinos eased to an impressive victory that ensures coach Tony Smith will end his fourth and final season as he finished his first, with a Grand Final appearance.

Their trip to Old Trafford next Saturday will be their fourth but their first meeting with St Helens in a final in the Super League era.

The Warriors unforgettably overturned a 30-6 deficit to beat Bradford in their opening play-off tie and came from behind in their win at Hull last week to keep alive their dream of becoming the first team to reach the Grand Final from sixth place.

But they trailed 16-0 at half-time after being outplayed by a rampant Rhinos and only briefly threatened another comeback when Pat Richards scored and converted a try on 55 minutes.

Leeds, determined from the outset to make up for their agonising semi-final defeat at Saints, were the dominant team throughout and emphasised their superiority against tiring opponents with three tries in the final quarter.

They opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a penalty from Sinfield, who maintained his record of scoring in every game this year, and went on to boss the show.

The Rhinos first unlocked the Wigan defence when Great Britain prop Jamie Peacock skipped out of Iafeta Palea'aesina's attempted tackle and full-back Brent Webb was in support to race 40 metres unchecked for his 22nd try of the season.

Sinfield added the conversion and kicked a second penalty after former Leeds hooker Shane Millard was punished for a high tackle on Kylie Leuluai to make it 10-0.

Winger Scott Donald was then denied by an ankle tap from Wigan centre Phil Bailey but Leeds scored their second try four minutes before the break when substitute second rower Ali Lauitiiti capped an impressive entrance by powering his way over from short range.

With memories of the Warriors' sensational fightback at Odsal still fresh in the mind, Leeds knew they could not relax.

They thought they had put the game beyond their visitors two minutes into the second half when they pounced on a stray pass from Wigan second rower Gareth Hock.

Stand-off Danny McGuire tapped the loose ball towards the line but slow-motion replays showed he lost control just short of the line and video referee Phil Bentham disallowed the try.

With Peacock setting a superb lead up front and Rob Burrow causing problems with his tricky footwork, the Rhinos continued to look the more threatening side but suddenly Wigan produced a try out of nothing to give themselves hope.

Danger man Trent Barrett raced onto a kick over the Rhinos defence by his half-back partner Thomas Leuluai and full-back Richards was on his inside to take the final pass.

Richards, Super League's leading scorer, converted his own try to cut the deficit to 10 points as the game entered the final quarter.

But it was only a fleeting fightback, with Leeds quickly re-asserting control through the growing influence of Sinfield.

He broke from halfway to set up Burrow for the first of his brace of tries and put in a sliderule kick for Webb to claim his second.

Wigan centre Darrell Goulding had a try disallowed and they had second rower Gareth Hock placed on report for a challenge on hooker Matt Diskin before Leeds finished in total control.

Burrow dashed past tired limbs for his second try and Sinfield converted to make it seven goals from seven attempts and also put over two late drop goals to complete the emphatic victory.

E-mail this article E-mail Article Print this article Print-Friendly Subscribe to sportinglife RSS feed Subscribe to RSS Feed
Digg this story post this story to del.icio.us - social bookmarking site Post to del.icio.us Facebook

Click here to send us your sporting feedback

  Latest Rugby League Stories
 DRAGONS HOPEFUL OVER KEEPING BIRD
 WILDCATS DUO ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
 FORD A NON-STARTER FOR LEAGUE JOB
 NEW SPONSOR DEAL FOR ROVERS
 KEAR DISMISSES ENGLAND LINK
 FORD IN FRAME FOR LEAGUE JOB
 GIANTS RECRUIT CORDING
 SALFORD SWITCH FOR HOLDSWORTH
 PASSPORT WORRY FOR STOSIC
 BULLS SILENT OVER WALKER CLAIM

----------------------------------------------------------------
Part of 365 Media Group

Sports News & Entertainment
Sporting Life | TEAMtalk | Sportal | Football365 | Cricket365
Golf365 | Fixtures365 | Extreme365 | Planet F1 | Planet Rugby | Sky Sports | Football365 ZA

Betting & Gaming
Betting Zone | WSOP |Sky Bet | Poker | Online Casino | Online Bingo | Oddschecker | Casino Checker | Poker Checker | Bingo Checker | Free Bets

Mobile, Fun & Games
Free Online Games | 24-7 Football | Fantasy Football | Fantasy F1
----------------------------------------------------------------

© 2009 365 Media Group Ltd, All Rights Reserved.
Email Your Comments - Advertise With Us - About/Contact Us
Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy - RSS


2009 Reports
Bradford Bulls
Castleford Tigers
Catalans Dragons
Celtic Crusaders
Harlequins RL
Huddersfield
Hull FC
Hull KR
Leeds Rhinos
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Warrington
Wigan
2008 Reports
Bradford Bulls
Castleford Tigers
Catalans Dragons
Harlequins RL
Huddersfield
Hull FC
Hull KR
Leeds Rhinos
St Helens
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Warrington
Wigan
2007 Reports
Bradford Bulls
Catalans Dragons
Harlequins RL
Huddersfield
Hull FC
Hull KR
Leeds Rhinos
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Warrington
Wigan
2006 Reports
Bradford Bulls
Castleford
Catalans Dragons
Harlequins RL
Huddersfield
Hull FC
Leeds Rhinos
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Warrington
Wigan
2005 Reports
Bradford
Huddersfield
Hull
Leeds
Leigh
London
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Widnes
Wigan
2004 Reports
Bradford
Castleford
M Huddersfield
Hull
Leeds
London
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Widnes
Wigan
2003 Reports
Bradford
Castleford
Halifax
Huddersfield
Hull
Leeds
London
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Widnes
Wigan
2002 Reports
Bradford
Castleford
Halifax
Hull
Leeds
London
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Widnes
Wigan
2001 Reports
Bradford
Castleford
Halifax
Huddersfield
Hull
Leeds
London
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Wigan
2000 Reports
Bradford
Castleford
Halifax
Hudd/Sheff
Hull
Leeds
London
Salford
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Wigan
1999 Reports
Bradford
Castleford
Halifax
Huddersfield
Hull
Leeds
London
Salford
Sheffield
St Helens
Wakefield
Warrington
Wigan