Wigan showed great desire to hold on for the win

Leeds: (12) 18
Tries: Toopi, Webb 2
Goals: Sinfield (3)

Wigan: (12) 22
Tries: Ashton, O'Loughlin, Calderwood
Goals: Richards (5)

Wigan resisted a spirited Leeds Rhinos fightback to secure their passage to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

The Warriors, who scored tries through Chris Ashton, Sean O'Loughlin and Mark Calderwood, led 22-12 with 30 minutes of the match remaining.

Brent Webb then scored his second try of the match and Kevin Sinfield kicked his third conversion to take Leeds to within four points of Wigan.

But the Wigan defence survived a series of repeat sets to seal a fine cup win.

Leeds had opened the scoring through Clinton Toopi, who used his strength to burrow over the line after the home team had worked the ball right-to-left with a smooth sequence of passes.

Sinfield converted but the Warriors responded well, with Ashton collecting a pass from Bryan Fletcher to burst through the Leeds line and score.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the match

And it was another superb move that saw the visitors take a deserved lead.

Trent Barrett slipped a brilliant delayed pass to O'Loughlin and the Wigan skipper ran clear to score.

Pat Richards converted both tries as Wigan went 12-6 up but the Rhinos ensured the scores were level at the break when Sinfield converted after full-back Webb crossed from close range under pressure from two Wigan defenders.

Both teams were guilty of wasting further chances to score, with Wigan's Micky Higham breaking clear and passing to Ashton, who dropped the ball.

Leeds winger Lee Smith demonstrated great footwork to elude a tackle but then delivered a shocking pass to Gareth Ellis, who knocked on with the try-line at his mercy.

The Warriors looked increasingly confident after the break and edged 16-12 in front ahead after Richards kicked two penalties.

And the tie moved further in favour of Wigan when former Leeds winger Calderwood cut inside to touch down after collecting a superb long pass from Barrett.

Trailing by 10 points, Leeds launched a sustained assault on the Wigan line and, after a lengthy referral to the video referee, Webb was awarded his second try of the match.

The New Zealand international collected a pass from Matt Diskin and just managed to barge over the line with two players attempting to tackle him.

Skipper Sinfield continued his 100% record with the boot and his team continued to press and probe the Wigan defence, with the half-back combination of Rob Burrows and Danny McGuire using short kicks to good effect.

McGuire burst through the Wigan line with 10 minutes left but checked his run and the chance was gone.

• Leeds Rhinos coach Tony Smith:

"I thought they deserved their win. Wigan's defence was very good and they scrambled well.

"Had we taken the opportunities we created, it might have been a different result. I still don't think our performance was great.

"I thought we were off the boil, particularly in the first half."

• Wigan Warriors coach Brian Noble:

"Our defence was magnificent - it had to be.

"We showed the kind of desire that we have talked about.

"We are a good team and growing and when we learn to control the ball we will be even better."

Leeds: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Peacock, Diskin, Leuluai, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield.
Replacements: Thackray, Bailey, Kirke, Lauitiiti.

Wigan: Ashton, Calderwood, Bailey, Vaealiki, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Millard, Paleaaesina, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Higham, Hansen, Goulding, O'Carroll.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).

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