Wigan party as they roll out the Farrell

Leeds 24 Wigan 36

The return of their captain helped Wigan avenge defeat by Leeds at the JJB stadium in April, with Andy Farrell scoring a superb try and having a hand in several others at Headingley last night.

Wigan might have had Farrell back but no Kris Radlinski, with the young Sean Briscoe continuing to fill in at full-back. The match was an odd experience for David Furner, in the Wigan second row but rumoured to have signed for Leeds for next season. The home side's need for seasoned forwards was all too plain to see from a front row featuring Wayne McDonald and the teenager Ryan Bailey.

Leeds failed to take an early lead when Ben Walker missed a penalty they might have been better running. They fell behind when Farrell marked his return by putting an angled kick through a stretched defence for Terry Newton to pounce.

Julian O'Neill landed the conversion and a penalty, cancelled out by one from Walker before Farrell got a reminder, after his month out of the game, of just how cruel it can be. He made a surging break but put his pass into touch. From the scrum, Keith Senior charged through the Wigan defence for Francis Cummins to score and a potential 14-2 lead became eight-all. It got worse for Wigan. Mick Cassidy was sent to the sin bin for holding on in the tackle and, almost immediately, Matt Diskin went over from close range for Leeds' second try.

Just before half-time, Jamie Ainscough squeezed over in the corner for Wigan and was credited with a try, even though the video replay seemed to show him losing control of the ball. O'Neill's conversion tied up an intriguing contest.

Leeds' Matt Adamson was also in the bin by that stage and Wigan regained the lead with O'Neill knocking over a penalty two minutes into the second half. Three minutes later, the returned Cassidy threw a good miss-out pass for Ainscough to claim his second.

A great solo run by Farrell sealed it for Wigan, especially when O'Neill took his goal tally to seven with the conversion and a penalty. Leeds staged a late rally when they had one try disallowed for a forward pass and then scored one that did count through Tonie Carroll. However, Farrell's reverse pass to Adrian Lam ensured there would be no late reversal.

Leeds: Cummins; Calderwood, Carroll, Senior, Pratt; B Walker, Sheridan; Bailey, Viskin, McDonald, Adamson, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield. Subs: Poaching, Ward, Burrow, C Walker.

Wigan: Briscoe; Carney, Hodgson, Connolly, Ainscough; O'Neill, Lam; O'Connor, Newton, C Smith, Cassidy, Furner, Farrell. Subs: O'Loughlin, Howard, M Smith, Tickle.

Referee: R Smith (Castleford)