Leigh underline Challenge Cup chances as they batter Wakefield

Tonight the road to Wembley moved onto the motorway as Super League clubs entered the oldest and most prestigious competition in rugby league.

In the only all Super League clash of the night there seemed to be a gulf in class as play-off hopefuls Leigh Leopards blitz the winless Wakefield Trinity.

Leigh instantly took the lead through a man who loves the Challenge Cup in the shape of three time winner and scorer seven Wembley tries Tom Briscoe who scored after Wakefield were unable to deal with a Lachlan Lam kick.

It was 10-0 within the opening 10 minutes as skipper John Asiata scored the Leopards’ second. Ben Reynolds’ conversion made it 12-0.

Wakefield stemmed the tide for some time but on the half hour mark Briscoe bagged his brace after a lovely move down the right.

Kai O’Donnell notched the Leopards’ fourth try of the game with five minutes to the break as he bust through Wakefield’s line.

22-0 at the break and Leigh had one foot in the quarter-finals but Wakefield did give them something to think about as Jay Pitts crossed for the West Yorkshire side.

But straight after that, O’Donnell crossed for Leigh’s fifth try cancelling out Wakefield’s.

If that didn’t settle matters, Ricky Leutele’s try in the 65th minute did making it 34-6.

Wakefield were much more competitive in the second half and Will Dagger finished a lovely move to make it 34-12.

Josh Charnley couldn’t not score given his recent form and he scored the Leopards’ seventh making it 40-12.