Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Group Game
Leigh Leopards 6-36 Huddersfield Giants
Leigh Miners Rangers RL Academy, Manchester Road, Sunday 24th March 2024 (3pm)
Leopards bowed out of the Challenge Cup at the group stage after their second successive defeat against a Super League outfit.
Giants and Leeds Rhinos progress to the last eight of the competition leaving the Leopards’ last group game at Hull KR about pride only and a chance to regroup ahead of the resumption of the Championship campaign.
Leopards had no answer to the pace, power and athleticism of Giants’ right winger Amelia Brown who scored a first-half hat-trick on her way to an impressive five try haul.
Recently called up to the England National Performance Squad, Brown got the Giants underway with the opening try following a break down the wing and went on to dominate the game.
The immaculate artificial playing surface at Sutton Park suited her game down to the ground.
Giants opened a 20-0 half-time lead despite spending ten minutes down to 12 after Lois Naidole was sin binned.
Ana Da Silva, one of several other impressive performers in their ranks, also crossed and standoff Frankie Townend added two conversions.
Leopards lacked their usual attacking sparkle and rarely threatened in the first half but tackled resolutely to contain the powerful Giants side.
Claire Collins showed great footwork to evade the close-range Giants defence and open the Leopards’ account soon after the resumption with a splendid individual try, Chalotte Melvin converting.
But two quickfire tries by Brown put the issue beyond doubt and Da Silva scored the visitors’ second try in the dying minutes, Ellie Thompson adding two goals.
Brown blotted her otherwise impeccable copybook by ending the game in the sin bin after holding down Storm Cobian who had looked all set a try-scorer after a powerful run until she was overhauled.
Leopards
1 Hattie Dogus; 2 Toryn Blackwood, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 16 Storm Cobain, 4 Gabi Leigh; 24 Abi Gordon, 7 Leah Morris; 8 Kiera McCosh, 6 Rhianna Burke, 10 Mairead Quinn (capt), 11 Keli Morris, 13 Claire Collins, 18 Grace Hill.
Bench: 23 Georgia Molem 15 Sam Brazier, 20 Eleanor Dainty, 17 Claire Mullaney. 18th player: 30 Maddie Price
Try: Collins (50); Goals: Melvin 1/ 1
Giants
1 Amy Bennett; 5 Amelia Brown, 4 Lois Naidole, 3 Ana Da Silva, 15 Becky Grady; 6 Frankie Townend, 7 Sam Hulme; 16 Ellie Oldroyd, 9 Bethan Oates (capt), 16 Emma Wilkinson, 11 Jess Harrap, 12 Kacey Haley, 13 Katy Fisher.
Bench: 24 Ellie Thompson, 18 Grace Ramsden, 21 Lauren Walker, 23 Em Johnstone. 18th player: 19 Beth Armstrong.
Tries: Brown (11, 33, 39, 53, 56), Da Silva (21, 76)
Goals: Townend 2/ 4, Thompson 2/ 3
Sin bin: Naidole (25), Brown (72)
Scores: 0-6, 0-10, 0-14, 0-20 (ht) 6-20, 6-26, 6-32, 6-36
