Latest news with #Nsemba
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wigan go top with thrilling win over Leigh
Betfred Super League Wigan (28) 36 Tries: Marshall, Wardle, Keighran, Nsemba, Ellis, Eckersley, Leeming Goals: Keighran 4 Leigh (12) 28 Tries: Niu, Ofahengaue, O'Neill 2, Trout Goals: O'Brien 2, McNamara 2 Wigan Warriors moved above Hull KR to the top of the Super League table with a pulsating 36-28 victory over Leigh Leopards at the Brick Community Stadium. When these two met in the opening round of fixtures in February, all manner of records were broken in a 1-0 golden-point win for Leigh, the lowest-scoring Super League game. Here they served up the polar opposite with a 12-try thriller on a night when the scoreboard rarely stopped turning over. Victory moved Matty Peet's side to the top of the table on points difference over Hull KR, who have a chance to reclaim top spot against Huddersfield Giants on Saturday. If Wigan and Leigh's single-point season opener had been entertaining in its own way, this was rugby league for the neutral with some scintillating attacking play. Wigan were the first to fire as they raced into a 12-0 lead with converted tries from Liam Marshall and Jake Wardle inside nine minutes. Yet Leigh gained a foothold in the contest when Owen Trout forced Jai Field into a fumble under a high ball on 19 minutes, and Tesi Niu bulldozed over close to the posts. Bevan French was as ever at the heart of most of Wigan's play-making and it was the brilliant Australian whose pass put in Adam Keighran for Wigan's third try. Junior Nsemba made it four after a high ball bounced fortunately for Sam Walters to gather and assist. And Kaide Ellis made it five when quick thinking allowed him to ground the ball when he was being held up on the line. It looked like curtains for Leigh at that stage, but Adrian Lam's outfit are nothing but resilient and, despite their 21-14 Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Warrington Wolves undoubtedly taking plenty out of their legs, they fought back bravely from that point. Joe Ofahengaue grabbed a try back just before the break as they trailed 28-12 at the halfway point. And they came out firing after the break with 12 unanswered points in as many minutes as Ethan O'Neill sneaked in twice from close range. With the score closer than it had been at any point at 32-22, Wigan's nerves might have started to fray but Kruise Leeming soothed them by finishing off a long-range effort as the lead stretched again to 36-22. There was a lengthy delay after Zak Eckersley suffered a neck injury after a tackle which involved Alec Tuitavake. The Wigan player left the field on a stretcher and was taken to hospital, while the Leigh man will find out his fate on Monday when the challenge is reviewed. The delay took some of the sting from the game, and although Trout barrelled over for a converted late try to get Leigh within eight points of the home team, the hooter beat any further comeback. Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Byrne, O'Neill, Walters, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis. Interchanges: Thompson, Mago, Leeming, Dupree. Leigh: Hodgson, McIntosh, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, O'Brien, Lam, Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Neill, Trout, Liu. Interchanges: Hughes, Davis, Tuitavake, McNamara. Referee: Chris Kendall.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
French & Nsemba try doubles seal Wigan win at Hull
Bevan French has scored eight tries in all competitions for Wigan Warriors so far this season [SWPix] Betfred Super League Hull FC (12) 12 Tries: Pryce, Barron Goals: Sezer Wigan (22) 36 Tries: French 2, Field, Nsemba 2, Wardle, Miski Goals: Keighran 4 Wigan Warriors moved up to second in the Super League table courtesy of a classy win against Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium. Advertisement The visitors raced out the blocks and led inside five minutes through Bevan French, but Will Pryce cut inside to get the hosts on the board. Jai Field weaved his way through to restore Wigan's lead, with Junior Nsemba and Jake Wardle adding to their tally after Harvey Barron's reply for Hull. Abbas Miski's dive to the corner and Bevan French's cross-field run-in put Wigan out of sight, while Nsemba's late drive put further polish on a comprehensive performance. Wigan wasted no time in taking the lead as French capitalised on a communication breakdown in the Hull defence to race on to a loose ball and go to ground for his sixth Super League try of 2025. Advertisement Such was their fervour to maintain that early lead that no sooner did Pryce try to gain ground for the hosts on the wing, he was turfed in to touch by a crowd of opponents. Undeterred, however, Pryce was influential both in the build-up and process of putting them ahead, racing through a gap to get his side in touching distance and then later latching on to a pass to dummy through for his first try since joining the club last month. There was an error from the hosts straight from the restart, however, as Lewis Martin had a foot in touch when he received the kick and Wigan took full advantage of their field position in the aftermath as Field twisted his way into crossing over moments later. Hull kept pace once again, this time as Aidan Sezer's kick was met by Barron, but Nsemba ducked and dived his way to the line to send Wigan further ahead with a bit of style. Advertisement Wigan added some sheen to a classy first-half performance as Wardle strolled through with ease at the corner after Hull failed to pick him up. After the break, Miski's try was given by video referee Ben Thaler after it was judged he did not land over the line in the process of Hull's attempt to thwart his audacious drive to the corner. French's lung-busting run from 80 metres put the visitors out of sight and brought up his tally to three tries against the Airlie Birds this season, having also scored in their 46-4 thrashing of their opponents back in February. Nsemba's late try helped Wigan see out the game in style and remain two points behind leaders Hull KR after nine games. Advertisement Hull FC: Pryce; Barron, Briscoe, Litten, Martin; Cust, Sezer; Ese'ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Ashworth, Asiata. Interchanges: Chamberlain, Aydin, Balmforth, Laidlaw. Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Byrne, O'Neill, Walters, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis. Interchanges: Thompson, Leeming, Hill, Eckersley. Referee: Jack Smith.
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
French and Nsemba double gives Wigan win at Hull
Betfred Super LeagueHull FC (12) 12Tries: Pryce, Barron Goals: SezerWigan (22) 36Tries: French 2, Field, Nsemba 2, Wardle, Miski Goals: Keighran 4 Wigan Warriors moved up to second in the Super League table courtesy of a classy win against Hull FC at the KCOM visitors raced out the blocks and led inside five minutes through Bevan French, but Will Pryce cut inside to get Hull on the Field weaved his way through to restore Wigan's lead, with Junior Nsemba and Jake Wardle adding to their tally after Harvey Barron's score for the Miski's dive to the corner and Bevan French's cross-field run-in put Wigan out of sight, while Nsemba's late drive put further polish on a comprehensive performance. Wigan wasted no time in taking the lead as French capitalised on a communication breakdown in the Hull defence to race onto a loose ball and go to ground for his sixth Super League try of was their fervour to maintain that early lead that no sooner did Pryce try to gain ground for the hosts on the wing, he was turfed in to touch by a crowd of Wigan however, Pryce was influential both in the build-up and process of putting them ahead, racing through a gap to get his side in touching distance and then later latching onto a pass to dummy through for his first try since joining the club last was an error from the hosts straight from the restart, however, as Lewis Martin had a foot in touch when he received the kick and Wigan took full advantage of their field position in the aftermath as Field twisted his way into crossing over moments kept pace once again, this time as Aidan Sezer's kick was met by Barron, but Nsemba ducked and dived his way to the line to send Wigan further ahead with a bit of added some sheen to a classy first-half performance as Wardle strolled through with ease at the corner after Hull failed to pick him the break, Miski's try was given by video referee Ben Thaler after it was judged he did not land over the line in the process of Hull's attempt to thwart his audacious drive to the lung-busting run from 80 metres put Wigan out of sight and brought up his tally to three tries against the Airlie Birds this season, having also scored in their 46-4 thrashing of their opponents back in February, with Nsemba's late try helping Wigan see out the game in style. Hull FC: Pryce; Barron, Briscoe, Litten, Martin; Cust, Sezer; Ese'ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Ashworth, Chamberlain, Aydin, Balmforth, Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Byrne, O'Neill, Walters, Nsemba, Farrell, Thompson, Leeming, Hill, Jack Smith.
