Peacock's so plucky

LEEDS 23

WIGAN 16

Jamie Peacock turned in a lionhearted display to dash Wigan's hopes of moving closer to a 29th Challenge Cup final appearance.

Bloodied and battered, the Great Britain skipper led from the front as world champions Leeds overcame a battling Wigan to notch their eighth win in a row.

Peacock, who needed facial stitches after a sizzling quarter-final, played the full 80 minutes in a tie dubbed "worthy of a final" by Wigan boss Brian Noble.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan said: "Jamie was outstanding and it was a phenomenal effort from a great player.

"I looked at him in the last five minutes and it was though he had fought in all the wars. He seemed to bleed from everywhere.

"It was one of those old fashioned scratch and claw ties."

Wigan trailed only 18-16 when Liam Colbon was bundled into touch 10 minutes from time by Danny McGuire when he looked a certain scorer.

Leeds rallied and skipper Kevin Sinfield and Gareth Ellis, who also needed stitches in a gashed cheek, combined for Scott Donald to bag his 18th try of the season to go joint top of the scorers' chart.

Sinfield, who kicked three goals, added a last-minute drop goal to clinch Leeds' place in the semi-finals.

Noble said: "We were the better team but we ran out of energy."

Matt Diskin, Rob Burrow and Brent Webb scored Leeds' other tries, Mark Calderwood and Thomas Leuluai touching down for Wigan, with Pat Richards slotting over four kicks.