Leigh solidify top-four spot after Ofahengaue's late try sees off Wakefield

Leigh Leopards won this pulsating contest to solidify their position inside the top four and underline why they are a fraction ahead of Wakefield Trinity right now in Super League.
It felt like an afternoon for these two sides to showcase their Old Trafford credentials at the season's end, and both played their part in a thoroughly entertaining game which see-sawed until the final moments.
Leigh are now a bonafide top-six side and they look increasingly likely to be in the playoffs come the end of the summer. Here, they had to do it tough, trailing until the final three minutes before Joe Ofahengaue's late try helped to secure a precious win for the Leopards.
'It's a difficult place to come up to and win,' their coach, Adrian Lam, said. 'It's a real important part of the season and some stupid things put us under pressure. But they showed a lot of courage at the end to get that win – these are the ones that could really count and determine where you finish.'
The weekend served up another reminder of why there are short odds on the grand final this year being a rematch of the 2024 showdown between the defending champions, Wigan Warriors, and the new Challenge Cup winners, Hull KR. Rovers dismantled a woeful Catalans on Friday, while Wigan trailed Huddersfield when the full-time hooter sounded on Saturday, but still found a way to win thanks to Jack Farrimond's try in added time.
However, if either or both those teams slip up, there is an intriguing pack of teams below waiting to pounce – and these two are definite contenders.
Few would have given Wakefield a chance of making the playoffs when they won promotion to Super League, but Daryl Powell's team have acquitted themselves superbly in 2025. They sit seventh, just a point off sixth-placed Hull FC after this defeat but they could, and perhaps should, have been even higher.
This was the fifth game Wakefield have lost by four points or fewer this season. But they will fancy themselves to improve as the season reaches its crescendo this summer.
'We were really good for large parts,' their coach, Daryl Powell, said. 'But they were just too good, they've got some smart players and they got us in the end.' Both full-backs exchanged tries early on here, with Max Jowitt and David Armstrong both crossing for well-taken scores.
Sign up to The Recap
The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action
after newsletter promotion
But as the first half wore on, Leigh improved significantly. Armstrong's second put them further ahead before a wonderful team move led to Darnell McIntosh making it 18-6. But Oliver Pratt's try just before the break halved that 12-point deficit, and after the interval the hosts started on the front foot.
A mountain of pressure from Wakefield looked as though it would come to nothing but, with 16 minutes remaining, Corey Hall seized on a loose ball to touch down and put Trinity ahead.
Leigh responded, though, with seven minutes to go as Ofahengaue, their latest impressive recruit from the NRL, crashed over. As Lam said, who knows how pivotal that moment could be for both teams come September.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Rhyl Journal

10 minutes ago

• Rhyl Journal

Ben Duckett thrilled as Ollie Pope silences questions about his England place

Pope was at the centre of an outstanding day of ultra-competitive Test cricket against India, finishing with exactly 100 not out as England fought their corner under pressure in this Rothesay Series opener. He walked out to bat on the second afternoon with everything stacked against him – India boasting 471 first-innings runs and the peerless Jasprit Bumrah having just made short work of Zak Crawley with the new ball. That 💯 moment… Take a bow. Oliver John Douglas Pope 🫡 🤝 @IGcom — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 21, 2025 With grey clouds overhead and floodlights needed to improve visibility in the middle, it was a deeply unappetising situation for a player who came into the game with his place under scrutiny. A few hours later, having guided his side to 209 for three, the mere suggestion that he might be replaced any time soon felt fanciful in the extreme. 'It was goosebumps when he got his hundred, you could see what it meant to him,' said Duckett, who shared a stand of 122 with the vice-captain. 'He probably couldn't walk out in tougher conditions, Jasprit running down the hill with the lights on. 'There's no better feeling than that, scoring 100 against that attack after coming out at four for one. You can see that in the way he celebrated but it didn't just mean a lot to him, it meant a huge amount in the dressing room as well.' Much had been made of a theoretical head-to-head between Pope and rising star Jacob Bethell, a notion captain Ben Stokes swatted away on the eve of the match as he threw his full support behind the incumbent. The selection debate has been too loud to avoid but the Surrey man may well have settled it in the most public way possible, bat in hand in front of a sellout Saturday crowd in Yorkshire. 'We're very good at keeping things in the dressing room but obviously you can hear the noise from outside,' admitted Duckett. 'We're not having discussions in the dressing room about who's going to play. But the way Popey has dealt with that has been superb. It sums up and proves why he's England's number three and is doing what he's doing.' Duckett had a front row seat as Bumrah threw everything he had at England. The unpredictable paceman finished with three for 48 from 13 electric overs but could easily have doubled his haul given the number of edges, chances and near misses he generated. The last of those saw him have Harry Brook caught for a duck only to be called for a no-ball, a late gut punch, but he will surely be back for more. 'He's the best bowler in the world,' said Duckett, who was eventually bowled for 62. 'He's good in India on the flattest pitches ever and, when he's coming down the hill with the lights on, swinging both ways, it's tough. 'I feel we minimised the damage early on, it could have been a lot worse today so we're pretty happy with the position we're in.'

Powys County Times

25 minutes ago

• Powys County Times

Sunday's briefing: England Under-21s progress and Nuno extends Forest stay

Reigning champions England made the last four of the European Championship with an impressive 3-1 victory over Spain in Slovakia. Nuno Espirito Santo signed a new three-year deal as Nottingham Forest manager, and it was a red letter day for Borussia Dortmund new boy Jobe Bellingham at the Club World Cup. Young Lions roar again What a win. What a performance. OUR #YOUNGLIONS ARE INTO THE #U21EURO SEMI-FINALS! 👏 — England (@England) June 21, 2025 Holders England booked their place in the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over Spain. The Young Lions, who next face the Netherlands after they beat Portugal with 10 men, progressed after early strikes from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott. Spain responded with a penalty from Javi Guerra before the break. But Elliot Anderson's late spot-kick secured a memorable victory for Lee Carsley's side in what was a repeat of the 2023 final. New deal for Nuno The journey continues. — Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) June 21, 2025 Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will remain at the City Ground until at least 2008. The 51-year-old Portuguese, who guided Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, has signed a new three-year contract. Forest will be playing European football for the first time since the 1995-96 season in the Conference League. Nuno said: 'I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club. 'I would like to thank our owner, Mr (Evangelos) Marinakis, for his constant support and backing. It is important to me to share a strong relationship with our ownership and we have thoroughly enjoyed working together ever since I arrived at Forest.' Bellingham opens Dortmund goal account Jobe Bellingham scored his first Borussia Dortmund goal in a 4-3 Club World Cup win over Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati. Bellingham struck on the stroke of half-time after cushioning the ball on his chest, with his volley benefiting from a slight deflection. Dortmund have four points from two Group G games after drawing 0-0 with Fluminense in their opening match. Inter Milan kept alive their hopes of making the last 16 with a late 2-1 comeback victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle. Lautaro Martinez equalised after 78 minutes with a brilliant overhead kick and Valentin Carboni's sidefoot finish in stoppage time gave Cristian Chivu his first win as Inter boss. Holders England told to embrace Euros pressure Beth Mead has urged England to use pressure as fuel for their European title defence. The Lionesses squad travelling to Switzerland this summer is very different from the one that lifted the trophy on home soil at Euro 2022. Seven members of Sarina Wiegman's group have never played in a major tournament and England will be defending a major title for the first time. Arsenal forward Mead said: 'There's a little bit of pressure that comes with it but I think it's a free adrenaline injection, pump it into your veins. 'We've been there, we've done it, we need to bottle that energy up and (bring) what we brought last time.' What's on today? 👟⚽️ @TrentAA — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 21, 2025 Real Madrid are back in action at the Club World Cup against Mexican side Pachuca having drawn their tournament opener with Al Hilal. Juventus play Wydad Casablanca in Manchester City's group seeking to follow up their opening 5-0 win over Al Ain. At the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia, there are quarter-final ties between Denmark and France and Germany and Italy.

The Herald Scotland

an hour ago

• The Herald Scotland

Sunday's briefing: England Under-21s progress and Nuno extends Forest stay

Young Lions roar again Holders England booked their place in the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over Spain. The Young Lions, who next face the Netherlands after they beat Portugal with 10 men, progressed after early strikes from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott. Spain responded with a penalty from Javi Guerra before the break. But Elliot Anderson's late spot-kick secured a memorable victory for Lee Carsley's side in what was a repeat of the 2023 final. New deal for Nuno The journey continues. — Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) June 21, 2025 Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will remain at the City Ground until at least 2008. The 51-year-old Portuguese, who guided Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, has signed a new three-year contract. Forest will be playing European football for the first time since the 1995-96 season in the Conference League. Nuno said: 'I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club. 'I would like to thank our owner, Mr (Evangelos) Marinakis, for his constant support and backing. It is important to me to share a strong relationship with our ownership and we have thoroughly enjoyed working together ever since I arrived at Forest.' Bellingham opens Dortmund goal account Jobe Bellingham, left, celebrates after opening his goal account for new club Borussia Dortmund (Jeff Dean/AP) Jobe Bellingham scored his first Borussia Dortmund goal in a 4-3 Club World Cup win over Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati. Bellingham struck on the stroke of half-time after cushioning the ball on his chest, with his volley benefiting from a slight deflection. Dortmund have four points from two Group G games after drawing 0-0 with Fluminense in their opening match. Inter Milan kept alive their hopes of making the last 16 with a late 2-1 comeback victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle. Lautaro Martinez equalised after 78 minutes with a brilliant overhead kick and Valentin Carboni's sidefoot finish in stoppage time gave Cristian Chivu his first win as Inter boss. Holders England told to embrace Euros pressure Beth Mead has embraced the pressure ahead of England's Euro trophy defence in Switzerland (Adam Davy/PA) Beth Mead has urged England to use pressure as fuel for their European title defence. The Lionesses squad travelling to Switzerland this summer is very different from the one that lifted the trophy on home soil at Euro 2022. Seven members of Sarina Wiegman's group have never played in a major tournament and England will be defending a major title for the first time. Arsenal forward Mead said: 'There's a little bit of pressure that comes with it but I think it's a free adrenaline injection, pump it into your veins. 'We've been there, we've done it, we need to bottle that energy up and (bring) what we brought last time.' What's on today? Real Madrid are back in action at the Club World Cup against Mexican side Pachuca having drawn their tournament opener with Al Hilal. Juventus play Wydad Casablanca in Manchester City's group seeking to follow up their opening 5-0 win over Al Ain. At the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia, there are quarter-final ties between Denmark and France and Germany and Italy.