Sixth placed Leigh Centurions travelled to the Beaumont Legal Stadium in Wakefield to take on a Trinity side still smarting from last weeks local derby loss to the Leeds Rhinos. Leigh had there eyes on fourth spot and knew that a win by more than ten points would see them there, but a sixteen point win for the home side would propel them above the Centurions into sixth spot.
It was an intriguing battle with Super League's new boys Leigh, who have already taken some impressive Super League scalps, up against a Trinity side who have showed much improvement and who will be eyeing a top eight spot for the second consecutive season.
It was the perfect start for the Centurions who scored after just four minutes when Gareth Hock broke the tackle and passed to Danny Tickle who made twenty metres himself before finding Ben Reynolds to make the remaining thirty metres to the line to score. The stand-off added the extras himself for 6-0.
On seventeen Trinity got into their stride when Joe Arundel was the beneficiary of a David Fifita run and offload under the tackle. Sam Williams was accurate with the boot. Within three minutes Scott Grix scored Trinity's second when he went through a massive gap in a broken Leigh defence. Williams was again accurate with the boot and a six point deficit had become a six point lead.
In a see-sawing game Micky Higham grabbed a cheeky equaliser when he went under the Trinity defenders from acting half-back. Reynolds added the extras and the scores were level with twenty-five minutes on the clock.
As the clock hit thirty minutes the Centurions were in again, this time with Sam Hopkins busting the Trinity defence to crash over off a well-timed Higham pass. Reynolds again added the extras and Leigh were back in the lead a 18-12.
Just three more minutes had passed before Wakefield failed to keep hold of Ben Crooks as he took a Reynolds pass to pick himself up off the floor to ground. Reynolds converted a difficult looking opportunity with the boot.
Leigh were good value for their 24-12 half time lead as with the exception of a ten minute purple patch for the home side, they'd dominated the game.
Seven minutes into the second half and fleet of foot from Wakefield's Tom Johnstone saw him step out of two tackles to go twenty metres to score a skilful try. Williams kicked the extras from wide left.
On fifty-nine the sides were back level when Jacob Miller picked up a delightfully weighted grubber kick to ground under the Leigh sticks. When Williams slotted over the extra two it was 24-24.
A high tackle from Hock gifted Wakefield position and when a flying Ben Jones-Bishop collected a Williams cross-field kick to stretch over and ground. Referee Campbell checked with the video official but he was satisfied and despite Williams failing to add the extras, the home side had a four point lead.
The remainder of the game grew increasingly frantic from both sides but Trinity managed to keep the visitors scoreless in the second forty to seal a fantastic comeback win which lifts them up into seventh place. It was a tremendous second half effort from Wakefield with three good tries sealing the victory.
Trinity: Grix (T), Johnstone (T), Tupou, Arundel (T), Jones-Bishop (T), Williams (4G), Finn, Allgood, Hadley, Fifita, Kirmond, Ashurst, Arona. Subs: Miller (T), Wood, Huby, Hurst.
Centurions: Hampshire, Higson, Crooks (T), Brown, Dawson, Reynolds (T, 4G), Drinkwater, Hock, Higham (T), Acton, Tickle, Vea, Hansen. Subs: Pelissier, Green, Hopkins (T), Burr.
Referee: Chris Campbell.
Half-Time: 12-24.
Full-Time: 28-24.
Attendance: .
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