| Wigan 26-27 Leeds Wigan 26-27 LeedsLeeds produced the shock of the opening weekend of the Super League play-offs after a finish that combined drama, farce and controversy. The champions took a 27-26 lead with five minutes remaining through a drop goal from their captain, Kevin Sinfield, but the Wigan wing Pat Richards had the chance to snatch victory with the last kick of the game.The French referee, Thierry Alibert, was persuaded after lengthy discussions with his assistants to penalise Scott Donald for a fractionally late tackle. However, Richards, who equalled Andy Farrell's record for points in a Super League season this year but had missed two important kicks on the night, was unable to land the difficult touchline goal from 40 metres out.So it is the Rhinos who are now within 80 minutes of a fourth consecutive Grand Final appearance and who enjoy the luxury of next weekend off."We're delighted with that because we've been on the go since January," Sinfield said. "We're in the semis now, so who knows?"Wigan, who finished top of the Super League table nine points clear of Leeds, must now play a sudden‑death match at home to Hull KR on Friday night and, even if they win that game, they will be away the following weekend – when Leeds will have home advantage at Headingley.This result also means St Helens will have the dubious privilege of choosing whom they must beat to get to Old Trafford under Super League's Club Call innovation next Sunday afternoon. Saints have never been keen on the concept and their opinion is unlikely to change – at least in public – if Wigan beat Hull KR and Warrington beat Huddersfield next weekend, forcing them to choose between their fierce local rivals.However, Leeds and Wigan came out of this game with major injury concerns. Wigan lost their scrum‑half Paul Deacon with a groin injury when they were leading 12-0, and when Richards was lining up his last shot at goal the Leeds stand‑off Danny McGuire was being carried from the field on a stretcher after stumbling as he tried to impede George Carmont in back play. "It appears one of his ligaments was torn," said the Rhinos coach, Brian McClennan. "We're pretty concerned by what happened and we'd like the match review commissioner to have a good look at it."McGuire had been the key figure as Leeds wiped out a 14-point deficit in the last 18 minutes of the first half with tries from Danny Buderus and Ryan Hall, then scored a trademark poacher's try to put them 20-14 ahead early in the second. Wigan pulled level again when Liam Farrell surged over from close range but Donald then collected McGuire's long pass to regain the lead for the Rhinos.Sinfield curled over a touchline conversion – how important that was to prove in the final analysis, although it was easily forgotten in the maelstrom of the closing stages. First Sam Tomkins, who had scored Wigan's first two tries in another outstanding performance from full-back, caught Hall horribly out of position for Richards to score in the corner.Richards failed to convert, then sliced a relatively simple shot at an equalising penalty, before making it third time lucky with six minutes remaining. Leeds regained possession from the kick-off to create the position for Sinfield's match-winning one-pointer to settle an unforgettable contest.Before this weekend's matches the possibility of a fourth consecutive Leeds-St Helens Grand Final would have been widely dismissed. Now the play-off specialists are suddenly shaping as the teams most likely to reach Old Trafford yet again. But on this evidence, there will be plenty more twists and turns before the champions are determined on 2 October.Wigan Warriors S Tomkins; Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards; Deacon, T Leuluai; Fielden, Riddell, Coley (capt), Farrell, J Tomkins, O'Loughlin.Interchange Hansen, Prescott, McIlorum, Tuson.Leeds Rhinos Webb; Donald, Delaney, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; K Leuluai, Buderus, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Sinfield (capt).Interchange Diskin, Eastwood, Clarkson, Lauitiiti.Referee T Alibert (Albi). Attendance 12,117.Super LeagueWigan WarriorsLeeds RhinosRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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