Super League: Wigan beat Leeds 46-8 as Rhinos lose seven straight
Wigan scored seven tries as they beat Super League champions Leeds 46-8 to inflicted a club-record seventh straight defeat on the Rhinos.
Liam Marshall grabbed a hat-trick as the Warriors never really looked in any danger despite going behind early on, as they continued to put pressure on leaders St Helens..
Brett Ferres crossed to edge the Rhinos ahead, but Wigan took over with a quickfire double from Marshall before two penalties from Sam Tomkins put them in full control. Josh Woods then capped off a fine individual first-half performance with a try of his own as Wigan led 22-4.
The visitors had a try ruled out early in the second half, but second-half scores for Liam Farrell, Thomas Leuluai, Tom Davies and Marshall's third sealed a comfortable win for Shaun Wane's men.
Leeds were first to score when Richie Myler's kick caused confusion in the Wigan defence as John Bateman and Tomkins collided with each other to allow Ferres to touch down. This came after Tom Briscoe and Liam Sutcliffe had caused problems down the right.
Wigan almost hit back immediately as Oliver Gildart was put clear after a neat move involving Tomkins and Woods, but the centre was thwarted by a great tackle from full-back Jack Walker.
The Warriors were starting to control the game and soon found themselves in front. Sean O'Loughlin and Woods linked up well before the latter sent a long ball out for Marshall to score, with Tomkins converting from the touchline to put his side 6-4 up.
Marshall went over for his second moments later as Wigan hit the Rhinos with a double sucker-punch. The impressive Woods put Farrell through a gap before Gildart sent his winger over. Tomkins converted for a 12-4 advantage.
Tomkins kicked Wigan into a 10-point lead with a penalty in front of the sticks, while Woods was hurting the Rhinos with his own kicking game. His towering bomb was fumbled by Luke Briscoe and he went close to scoring a try before Tomkins kicked another penalty to put the Warriors 16-4 ahead.
Leeds were struggling to trouble Wigan and a knock-on from Walker put his team under pressure again. Woods capped off an impressive first half as he went over from close range to score, with Tomkins again converting to give Wigan a 22-4 interval cushion.
Leeds needed to score first in the second half and they thought they had when Luke Briscoe went over following a high bomb from Myler, but the video referee ruled that the winger had tackled Davies in the air.
Wigan ended this game as a contest in the 50th minute when Farrell raced away from Mitch Garbutt and touched down. Tomkins made no mistake with the boot to make it 28-4.
A strong run from Romain Navarrete put the Warriors in good attacking territory and they took full advantage as Leuluai went over from close range to add more misery to Leeds' night.
Leeds refused to give in and grabbed their second try of the night as Joel Moon was adjudged to have got the ball down in the corner following an almighty scramble.
Wigan ended the game with 12 men after Navarrete was sin-binned for dangerous contact on Jack Ormondroyd. That did not seem to matter, however, as the Warriors scored two more tries with Davies going over before Marshall completed his hat-trick following some great work from Morgan Escare.
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