Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win
Two tries by Jeff Lima inspired Wigan to a 28-18 victory over Leeds at Wembley on Saturday and their first Challenge Cup win since 2002.
Lima, formerly with the Melbourne Storm, had scored just one try since joining at the start of the season, but he bagged one in each half to claim the Lance Todd Trophy for the man-of-the-match as Michael Maguire's hot favourites just about held their nerve.
New Zealand hooker Thomas Leuluai also crossed in the closing stages while eight points from the boot of Pat Richards also denied Leeds, who had fought back from 16-0 down after half an hour.
Wigan, on the back of a club-record 12-match winning run, took just nine minutes to break the stalemate with winger Josh Charnley brilliantly dancing past three defenders to go over in the corner after good work from Sam and Joel Tomkins.
Sam Tomkins, a target of abuse for the Leeds fans throughout, raised the temperature further when he appeared to aim a two-fingered gesture towards them in the celebrations.
Richards fluffed a great chance five minutes later from Brett Finch's bomb but the incessant pressure paid finally off again.
New Zealand international Brent Webb dropped Paul Deacon's towering kick and from the resulting set of six tackles Lima crashed over from close range with Richards' boot making it 10-0.
And four minutes later the Tomkins brothers set Wembley alight.
Fullback Sam broke from deep before feeding Joel who raced down the right before stepping inside Jamie Peacock and Webb to go in under the sticks for a memorable score and Richards made it 16-0.
But the Rhinos finally came to life in the final ten minutes of the half - inspired by the introduction of Rob Burrow for the ineffective Danny Buderus.
Ryan Hall crashed over in the corner to reduce the deficit by four points before captain Kevin Sinfield benefitted from more quick work by Burrow to send over Ben Jones-Bishop two minutes before the break.
Sinfield converted from the touchline to make it 16-10 at the interval but the start to the second period proved much more cagey.
Leeds benefited from a Wigan error as Ryan Hoffman knocked on in his own quarter and Carl Ablett twisted through Joel Tomkins' tackle and touched down only for Sinfield to drag his kick wide.
That made it 16-14 to the champions heading into the last quarter but they responded with the crucial next score.
Lee Mossop's 63rd minute pass looked forward but Lima ran onto it at force before sliding over next to the posts and Richards' boot made it 22-14.
But it was game on again ten minutes from time when the ball was worked out to the left and Hall barged over for his 99th try in a Leeds shirt.
Sinfield again failed from the touchline but from the kick-off Jones-Bishop raced clear only for his grubber kick to cruelly fall from the grasp of Danny McGuire.
But there was still time for more drama as Leuluai crawled over in the 78th minute and his clinching try was given the green light by video referee Steve Ganson.
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