Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28: Pride is restored but classic Cup clash leaves sour taste in defeat

Yet, by the end of a fascinating Wembley encounter, resilient Leeds Rhinos came close to producing a record of an altogether different nature.

If not for a couple of incorrect refereeing decisions, they could so easily have overturned a 16-0 deficit and produced the biggest Challenge Cup final recovery on record.

Eventually, relieved Wigan – who were supposed to run out clear victors – relied upon a dubious Thomas Leuluai try in the 78th minute to finally make sure. But how they had to fight for their first Wembley win since 1995.

After dominating the opening exchanges so obviously, Wigan will perhaps have felt they should have been more than 16-0 ahead in the 27th minute but, regardless, this machine simply does not surrender such commanding positions so they could not have envisaged what was to come.

Leeds, having spectacularly failed to perform against Warrington in last year’s final, decided they would not be over-run again.

Ryan Hall, with his 100th career try, began the fightback in the 35th minute, Kevin Sinfield, typically, being at the heart of the move with a slick run-around involving Jamie Jones-Buchanan, before Danny McGuire and Carl Ablett supplied the England man.

When Jones-Buchanan surged clear soon after, finding open space through Wigan’s previous iron-like defence, the impetus increased.

Rob Burrow, with his sniping runs, had the desired impact off the bench, darting blind for Ben Jones-Bishop’s try, aided by a lovely crisp pass from Kallum Watkins.

Sinfield curled in the touchline conversion – although he missed three other difficult attempts which always meant Wigan could stay in front – and a Wigan side who seemed infallible suddenly looked nervous.

After the break, Wigan’s darling Sam Tomkins dropped an easy ball while trying to be fancy, Man of Steel Pat Richards did so while looking for a quick play-the-ball before the usually error-free Australian Ryan Hoffman also slipped up to invite Leeds in further.

They accepted it when Ablett powered over just before the hour, and if Sinfield could have converted, then the game would have beeen level.

He was off target but the momentum had swung.

Referee Phil Bentham then helped swing it straight back into Wigan’s favour though when he somehow missed Lee Mossop’s obvious forward pass for Jeff Lima to go over for his second try. The Kiwi forward had scored only once in 27 games since his move from Melbourne but ended up trebling that on the grandest of stages to become the first prop since Hull KR’s Brian Lockwood in 1980 to receive the esteemed Lance Todd Trophy.

None of which helped the aggrieved Rhinos but they rallied again with Hall adding his second when McGuire fired out a bullet pass meaning, moments later, when Jones-Bishop showed delightful footwork to stand-up Richards on the outside and thrillingly race clear with seven minutes to go, they had a clear opportunity to complete their most difficult of tasks.

The classy winger had numbers in support as full-back Tomkins approached but chose to kick ahead – in fairness, the retreating Richards had partly blocked the supply line for any inside pass – and the race ensued.

Tomkins beat McGuire to the bouncing ball but then missed it – only for the desperate Leeds scrum-half to just fail in touching down too.

They felt they would get more opportunities but again their plans were extinguished by another controversial decision.

Brett Finch, the Australian stand-off who had been so influential when Wigan started so swiftly, launched a downfield kick which left Burrow and Josh Charnley racing back.

It eventually rolled into touch off the Wigan player but Bentham called otherwise handing Wigan possession.

Crucially, Leuluai – Wigan are so much better when the Kiwi hooker is on the field – skipped over from 10m but even then there was doubt about his grounding.

The sense of relief among their players was palpable as they held on for a record 18th success but Leeds will realise it was their slow opening which clearly cost them so dear.

Some slack defence allowed Charnley to cut infield and score the opener, the winger suffering a broken finger in the process, before Brett Delaney erred when defending his own line to allow Lima a simple try.

There was some brilliance from Joel Tomkins when he raced 80m for a splendid individual try but Leeds defenders stood off his sibling Sam at the start of the movement and McGuire should have done better in trying to halt the centre once he had been released.

Their kicking game proved ineffectual as well – McGuire and Sinfield each kicked straight into touch and their attacking kicks were easily negated – meaning they failed to build enough pressure of their own.

It left you wondering what might have been achieved if they had sorted those areas earlier but, undoubtedly, Leeds had fully played their part in the best final since the famous old competition returned to Wembley five years ago.

They wanted to make their fans feel proud again 12 months on from that Warrington nadir; they certainly managed that even if the agony of their search for Cup glory goes on into a 13th year.

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