Betfred Super League Round 20
Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Thursday 1 August 2024 (8pm)
Castleford Tigers 10-20 Leigh Leopards
Leopards’ fourth win in a row was far from the spectacular attacking display against Saints six days previously and instead based on defensive resilience and teamwork in testing, sultry conditions.
Josh Charnley scored two tries for the second game in a row, Zak Hardaker an early try to add to two goals and Edwin ipape scorched the length-of-the-field for a spectacular effort.
But this valuable win will more be remembered for the all-round defensive efforts of the Leopards on an evening when their attacking game was below par.
With Matt Moylan, Gareth O’Brien, Tom Amone all ruled out, Jack Hughes partnered Lachlan Lam at halfback, Hardaker was back at fullback and Dan Norman and Luis Brogan came into the 17.
Tigers started brightly, Fletcher Rooney scoring a debut try in the corner as fullback Tex Hoy joined the attacking line to make the crucial assist in the overlap.
Hardaker burrowed his way over for the equalising score and Charnley finished off Lam’s clever angled kick for a hard-earned 8-4 lead at the break.
Two tries early in the second half effectively settled the issue. Ipape brilliantly caught Jacob Miller’s attacking kick to defuse a dangerous Tigers attack and scorched away from the trailing cover for his spectacular breakaway try.
Scored right in front of the large and noisy following of Leopards supporters at the Railway End, Ipape’s moment of brilliant opportunism turned the flow and initiative of the game firmly his side’s way.
Hardaker converted and was again on target after Charnley finished off Lam’s astute long pass to his unguarded wing as Leopards opened a 20-4 lead.
Time and again Leopards’ defence was determined and tough, denying Tigers yardage out of their own half and preventing scoring opportunities.
When Tigers got near the line the defence was alert, typified by Lam and Hardaker combining to stop Hoy forcing his way over.
Tigers’ best player, captain Joe Westerman, ghosted through for a try on the angle to reduce the arrears but Leopards held firm after that to earn back-to-back wins at the Jungle.
Last season’s win here was the club’s first in 35 years which indicates the size of the achievement. Leopards return for a loop fixture in September and will be hoping to make it a hat-trick.
Tigers
34 Tex Hoy; 31 Fletcher Rooney, 35 Corey Hall, 12 Alex Mellor, 5 Innes Senior; 16 Rowan Milnes, 7 Jacob Miller; 20 Murzz Mustapha, 10 George Lawler, 13 Jore Westerman (capt), 30 Luis Johnson, 11 Elie El-Zakhem, 29 George Hill
Bench (all played):
8 Liam Watts, 21 Sylvester Namo, 24 Cain Robb, 37 Daniel Hindmarsh-Takyi
Tries: Rooney (4), Westerman (62)
Goals: Milnes 1/ 2
Sin bin: Namo (77)
Leopards
3 Zak Hardaker; 34 Darnell McIntosh, 24 Umyla Hanley, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Josh Charnley; 12 Jack Hughes, 7 Lachlan Lam; 17 Owen Trout, 9 Edwin Ipape, 10 Robbie Mulhern, 11 Kai O’Donnell, 16 Frankie Halton, 13 John Asiata (capt)
Bench (all played):
30 Luis Brogan, 14 Dan Norman, 33 Brad Dwyer, 35 Aaron Pene. 18th player: 25 Tom Nisbet (not used)
Tries:
Hardaker (23), Charnley (28, 53), Ipape (47)
Goals:
McIntosh 0/ 2, Hardaker 2/ 3
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 4-4, 4-8 (ht), 4-14, 4-20, 10-20
Penalty count: 4-5
Referee: Marcus Griffiths; Touch judges: S Ellis & D Bowmer; Reserve referee: A Sweet; Video referee: Tom Grant; Match Commissioner: Paul Crashley; Timekeeper: M Hebblethwaite
