Latest news with #AdrianLam
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement 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.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
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.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sezer stars as Hull get back to form with emphatic Super League win at Leigh
John Cartwright has already enjoyed some wonderful moments as Hull FC coach and transformed the club's fortunes in just three months in charge, but this win at Leigh could well turn out to be his finest victory yet. There is no escaping the fact that after a wonderful start to 2025, Hull have endured a difficult few weeks. Injuries and a loss of form have resulted in them exiting the Challenge Cup at the hands of their biggest rivals and tumbling outside the playoff places as the midway point of the season approaches. Related: Manchester United face urgent dilemma: ditch Amorim or revamp the squad | Jonathan Wilson But this was an emphatic return to form at a ground where away victories are hard to come by. The Leigh coach, Adrian Lam, had joked this week that their opponents here were a carbon copy of how his side play – perhaps in no small part due to the fact that four of the FC side were Leigh players as recently as last season. And in truth Leigh were beaten at their own game. Hull were magnificent, 26-0 ahead by half-time and while they didn't score a point after the break, they really didn't need to. Two late Leigh tries were nothing more than consolation as the Black and Whites returned not only to form, but into the Super League playoff places. 'We've put some consistent footy together against a side I rate highly,' Cartwright said. His side suffered another worrying injury to a key individual, with John Asiata to be sent for scans on a hamstring injury, but that should not take the edge off a very encouraging night. Anyone Cartwright asks to play out of position, they duly deliver. Tries from Cade Cust and Herman Ese'ese gave the visitors some early dominance, and they didn't relent. Lewis Martin finished a fine Will Pryce break to extend that lead further, before a decisive blow right on half-time when Sam Eseh punctured another gap in the Leigh defensive line. Aidan Sezer, on his 250th career appearance, converted all four tries and kicked a penalty to open up an unassailable lead at the interval. The Leopards, woefully under par, had been comprehensively outplayed. 'I just didn't see that coming,' Lam said. 'It was disappointing in every area, really soft and just not what we've built this season on so far.' There were improvements by Leigh after the break, but by then Hull had lost Asiata and playmaker Cust, and were defending well enough to ensure that their lead never looked threatened. It wasn't until the final quarter that Leigh finally opened their account when Edwin Ipape crossed from dummy-half, before Owen Trout followed with a try of his own six minutes later. However, even at that stage, it was obvious Hull had done more than enough when it mattered earlier in the evening.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sezer stars as Hull get back to form with emphatic Super League win at Leigh
John Cartwright has already enjoyed some wonderful moments as Hull FC coach and transformed the club's fortunes in just three months in charge, but this win at Leigh could well turn out to be his finest victory yet. There is no escaping the fact that after a wonderful start to 2025, Hull have endured a difficult few weeks. Injuries and a loss of form have resulted in them exiting the Challenge Cup at the hands of their biggest rivals and tumbling outside the playoff places as the midway point of the season approaches. Advertisement Related: Manchester United face urgent dilemma: ditch Amorim or revamp the squad | Jonathan Wilson But this was an emphatic return to form at a ground where away victories are hard to come by. The Leigh coach, Adrian Lam, had joked this week that their opponents here were a carbon copy of how his side play – perhaps in no small part due to the fact that four of the FC side were Leigh players as recently as last season. And in truth Leigh were beaten at their own game. Hull were magnificent, 26-0 ahead by half-time and while they didn't score a point after the break, they really didn't need to. Two late Leigh tries were nothing more than consolation as the Black and Whites returned not only to form, but into the Super League playoff places. 'We've put some consistent footy together against a side I rate highly,' Cartwright said. His side suffered another worrying injury to a key individual, with John Asiata to be sent for scans on a hamstring injury, but that should not take the edge off a very encouraging night. Advertisement Anyone Cartwright asks to play out of position, they duly deliver. Tries from Cade Cust and Herman Ese'ese gave the visitors some early dominance, and they didn't relent. Lewis Martin finished a fine Will Pryce break to extend that lead further, before a decisive blow right on half-time when Sam Eseh punctured another gap in the Leigh defensive line. Aidan Sezer, on his 250th career appearance, converted all four tries and kicked a penalty to open up an unassailable lead at the interval. The Leopards, woefully under par, had been comprehensively outplayed. 'I just didn't see that coming,' Lam said. 'It was disappointing in every area, really soft and just not what we've built this season on so far.' There were improvements by Leigh after the break, but by then Hull had lost Asiata and playmaker Cust, and were defending well enough to ensure that their lead never looked threatened. It wasn't until the final quarter that Leigh finally opened their account when Edwin Ipape crossed from dummy-half, before Owen Trout followed with a try of his own six minutes later. However, even at that stage, it was obvious Hull had done more than enough when it mattered earlier in the evening.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Sezer stars as Hull get back to form with emphatic Super League win at Leigh
John Cartwright has already enjoyed some wonderful moments as Hull FC coach and transformed the club's fortunes in just three months in charge, but this win at Leigh could well turn to be his finest victory yet. There is no escaping the fact that after a wonderful start to 2025, Hull have endured a difficult few weeks. Injuries and a loss of form have seen them exit the Challenge Cup at the hands of their biggest rivals, as well as tumble outside the playoff places as the midway point of the season approaches. But this was an emphatic return to form at a ground where away victories are hard to come by. The Leigh coach, Adrian Lam, had joked this week that their opponents here were a carbon copy of how his side play – perhaps in no small part due to the fact that four of the FC side were Leigh players as recently as last season. And in truth Leigh were beaten at their own game. Hull were magnificent, 26-0 ahead by half-time and while they didn't score a point after the break, they really didn't need to. Two late Leigh tries were nothing more than consolation as the Black and Whites returned not only to form, but into the Super League playoff places. 'We've put some consistent footy together against a side I rate highly,' Cartwright said. His side suffered another worrying injury to a key individual, with John Asiata to be sent for scans on a hamstring injury, but that should not take the edge off a very encouraging night. Anyone Cartwright asks to play out of position, they duly deliver. Tries from Cade Cust and Herman Ese'ese gave the visitors some early dominance, and they didn't relent. Lewis Martin finished a fine Will Pryce break to extend that lead further, before a decisive blow right on half-time when Sam Eseh punctured another gap in the Leigh defensive line. Aidan Sezer, on his 250th career appearance, converted all four tries and kicked a penalty to open up an unassailable lead at the interval. The Leopards, woefully under par, had been comprehensively outplayed. 'I just didn't see that coming,' Lam said. 'It was disappointing in every area, really soft and just not what we've built this season on so far.' 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 There were improvements by Leigh after the break, but by then Hull had lost Asiata and playmaker Cust, and were defending well enough to ensure that their lead never looked threatened. It wasn't until the final quarter that Leigh finally opened their account when Edwin Ipape crossed from dummy-half, before Owen Trout followed with a try of his own six minutes later. However, even at that stage, it was obvious Hull had done more than enough when it mattered earlier in the evening.
