Wakefield Trinity’s stinking run of form in the Betfred Super League continued on Magic Weekend as they were comfortably beaten 30-4 by 12-man Leigh Leopards. Leopards have now won their last seven and move into the top four of Super League, while Trinity are yet to win this season.
The writing is already on the wall for Mark Applegarth’s team and on Magic Weekend, when they were handed a golden opportunity in the form of a Ben Reynolds red card, they still collapsed. Only a consolation try prevented their six nilling of this season, but they have already broken the Super League record, and there’s a serious argument to be made that this Wakefield Trinity outfit might be the worst team we have ever seen at this level.
But let’s take nothing away from a Leigh side that is oozing with confidence at the moment. Lachlan Lam in particular was in sensational form and even after the red card, they came back to assert their utter dominance at St James’ Park.
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Aside from an obvious kit clash, the opening saw some resolute defending from Wakey for the first five minutes. However, Lam made the breakthrough with a moment of individual brilliance as he weaved between two attempted tackles before using his pace to cross in the corner. Ben Reynolds couldn’t add the extras from wide left.
Rob Mulhern scored his first Super League try with a simple finish after Wakefield left a huge gap in the centre of their defence and it looked as if the game was over as a contest after just 15 minutes as Reynolds this time added the extras. 10-0.
Applegarth’s team have had such a soft underbelly this season and yet, a spark gave them a chance to get back in the contest. After a tussle with David Fifita, who was loving every single moment of the scrap, Reynolds threw a right punch at his head - and was subsequently shown a straight red card. It was a moment of madness from a man that had been wound up by the Trinity man, and in doing so, altered his team’s position of utter dominance in the match.
Tom Nisbet was then shown a yellow card for a high tackle and Wakefield were handed a golden opportunity to get back into the game, against 11 men. However, they couldn’t take it. Tom Lynham had been held up moments before the break and then dropped the ball when he was about to cross for a try and Wakefield couldn’t convert their numerical dominance into points on the board.
Leigh held their ten point lead heading into the break and then once their numbers were boosted to 12, were able to compete again. Lam broke through and the ball came to Edwin Ipape, who has been in sensational form this season as he crossed for the Leopards.
Wakefield imploded at 16-0 down with multiple errors costing them ground. A Zak Hardaker penalty took the lead to 18. Jack Croft was stretchered off with a serious looking injury that halted the game in the second half and we hope he makes a speedy and full recovery.
For his side, things didn’t get any easier as Josh Charnley crossed on the hour mark for his 16th of the season before Adrian Lam saw his son score his second try of the afternoon. Wakefield did avoid a sixth nilling this season however in the closing moments as Max Jowitt crossed to give the basement boys something to cheer about. But that is as good as things got in Newcastle for Trinity, as Leigh Leopards continue their remarkable resurgence. Just how far can Adrian Lam take them this term?
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