Challenge Cup Quarter-Final

Leeds 23-16 Wigan

Leeds put their name in the hat for Monday night's Challenge Cup semi-final draw, with a nervy 23-16 win over Wigan on Saturday.

Head coach Brian McLennan has tasted defeat just twice from 18 games this season in charge of Leeds, and moved a step closer to the Wembley final in August with this win at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

Wigan took an early lead through the boot of Pat Richards. Referee Richard Silverwood caught Leeds not standing square at the play-the-ball, and Wigan's leading points scorer opted to take the two. His kick sailed between the posts to give the visitors an early 2-0 lead.

Leeds weren't behind for long, though, and Matt Diskin controversially put Leeds in front minutes later. Kevin Sinfield appeared to have knocked on, but referee Richard Silverwood adjudged the ball to have bounced backwards, and it was Diskin who took advantage, spinning away from Wigan tacklers to touch down under the sticks. Sinfield made it 6-2 with a simple conversion.

Leeds winger Scott Donald went close in the 14 minute, and only excellent defensive work from Wigan's Darrell Goulding prevented the try. Donald claimed a high Sinfield kick, but Goulding was on hand to hold up Donald.

The scoreboard didn't alter again until the 26th minute. After a spell of Wigan pressure, Leeds were penalised for interfering at the play-the-ball and, like in the 2nd minute, Richards obliged by kicking the penalty, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

Identically to the 2nd minute, though, Leeds responded immediately after conceding, Rob Burrow grabbing a superb try. A high Trent Barrett bomb was left to bounce. In fortuitous fashion, Webb tapped the ball back, it bounced off the head of Stuart Fielden and into the hands of half-back Burrow. There was nothing fortuitous about Burrow's try, though, as he raced the length of the field past three Wigan chasers to dive over under the posts. Sinfield made it 12-4 by adding the extras.

Following incessant Wigan pressure, and a superb Brent Webb hold-up minutes, the Cherry & Whites finally crossed. Half-back Thomas Leuluai sent a spiralling kick to the left wing, and underneath it was Mark Calderwood. Richards kicked the conversion to cut Leeds' half-time lead to 12-10.

Leeds came out the sheds at lightning speed, and twice came close to extending their lead. First, Ryan Hall had a try chalked off because he had drifted offside, and in the next minute a Gareth Ellis knock-on behind the try-line let Wigan off.

Completely against the run of play, Wigan had a try disallowed in the 50th minute. A good move from the Wigan backs opened up a gap for Richards to touch down near the corner, but an obstruction from Joel Tomkins in the build-up kept the score at 12-10.

Soon after Brent Webb had stretched Leeds' lead on the end of a superb piece of running rugby. Diskin escaped from the tackle, released Danny McGuire, who in turn set Webb free under the sticks. Sinfield made it 18-10 with the conversion.

This kick-started Wigan, though, and they started to turn the screw, eventually finding a try through Leuluai. As the tackle count was wiped down to zero, Richards brilliantly pretended to be unaware and shaped his body as if to kick. This gained valuable yards, and on the end of the next move Leuluai found space to race free to the line. Richards added the two to make it 18-16.

Liam Colbon nearly put the visitors in front, but a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Webb and McGuire just put him into touch before he could touch down in the corner.

Donald finally clinched the game for Leeds with five minutes on the clock. Veteran Keith Senior broke through one tackle, and made priceless ground upfield. Neat lateral passing resulted in Donald scoring in the corner.

Any late nerves were killed off with a late Sinfield drop-goal. Leeds now await tomorrow's results, and could still face the likes of St Helens, Bradford and the two Hull sides in the semi-finals.