Leaders Wigan earn derby win over Leigh
Super League: Bevan French scores twice as leaders Wigan beat Leigh
- Published
Betfred Super League
Wigan (8) 18
Tries: French 2, Marshall, Farrell Goals: Keighran 4
Leigh (0) 6
Try: Dwyer Goal: Moylan
Super League leaders Wigan Warriors bolstered their position courtesy of a derby win against Leigh Leopards.
Bevan French got Wigan going in the first half, weaving his way past Leigh's backline to cross over.
Brad Dwyer hit back for the visitors as they pulled to within two points of Wigan, but the Cherry and Whites' lead was extended moments later by Liam Marshall.
French's second came from an audacious kick and chase that carved open the Leigh defence and Liam Farrell rounded off a night to remember with the fourth.
Wigan's victory takes them four points clear at the summit and was sweetened further by second-placed St Helens' defeat by out-of-form Castleford, while Leigh suffered their ninth league defeat of the season.
Super League leaders Wigan Warriors have a four-point cushion on second-placed St Helens and also have a game in hand on their rivals
It was a typical derby at the Brick Community Stadium, with both sides losing players to head injury assessments and yellow cards.
Ethan Havard replaced Mike Cooper for Wigan within the opening four minutes after he came off for the game's first HIA.
Despite a lack of points on the board, it was a high tempo start and Leigh were reduced to 12 when Robbie Mulhern was sent to the bin after 20 minutes for a high tackle on Kaide Ellis.
Adam Keighran got Wigan off the mark with the boot from the penalty that followed and they made their advantage count soon after when French went over following a 40-metre carry in the build-up from Jake Wardle.
Wigan's Brad O'Neill was sent to the bin before the break for a lifting challenge on Mulhern, which resulted in him having to leave for a HIA of his own.
Dwyer stunned Wigan as he went in from dummy half to edge Leigh to within two points 10 minutes into the second half, but Marshall stretched to the corner to send Matt Peet's side further in front.
Wigan were not finished and French cut through the middle and managed to chase his own goal-bound kick to score - with Farrell working onto Jake Wardle's offload to round off a morale-boosting night under the lights.
Wigan: French; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Cooper, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.
Interchanges: Havard, Mago, Dupree, Walters.
Leigh: Moylan; Hanley, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley; O'Brien, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Chamberlain, Trout.
Interchanges: Pene, Dwyer, Hughes, Asiata.
Referee: Aaron Moore.