Reserves, round 11
DIY Kitchens Stadium, Friday 9 August 2024 (5.15pm)
Wakefield Trinity 22-16 Leigh Leopards
Leopards went down to a narrow defeat in West Yorkshire in the archetypal game of two halves.
Stu Littler’s side enjoyed a dominant first half performance and deservedly held a commanding 16-0 lead at the interval.
Skipper Lewis Fairhurst set them on the way with a fourth minute try in the corner after Leopards slickly moved the ball across the line.
Livewire hooker Tommy Porter scooted over from distance to confirm his side’s excellent start with his seventh try of an impressive campaign, Fairhurst tagging on the conversion.
When winger Alfie Whittle added his seventh try of the season on the left wing and Fairhurst tagged on a penalty with the last action of the half Leopards looked set for a fine away win.
But Trinity had other ideas and inspired by Noah Booth, Ethan Wood and Will Brough, son of Danny, they turned the tables in the second half.
Winger Fredrik Ziegler kick-started the comeback with a smart finish from Booth’s offload and Brough kicked the first of his three second half conversions.
Wood then hauled Trinity back to within four points with a converted try before the home side’s revival was completed by two further quick-fire tries within the space of three minutes.
Harvey Roberts ploughed his way over the Leopards line from Josh Phillips’ short ball to level the scores at 16-16 just after the hour-mark.
Booth sliced through the Leopards defence for an individual effort that with Brough’s goal gave Trinity the lead for the first time in an entertaining game.
Time remained for a Leopards response but despite their best efforts the Trinity defence held firm.
A great effort by the Leopards team, many of whom had taken a full or half day off work to fulfil the early evening fixture in a precursor to the Trinity- Eagles Championship game.
Another great advert for the Reserves competition which has produced some entertaining games this season, Leopards’ first as a reserves side for a decade.
Leopards complete their programme with a trip to London Broncos in a fortnight.
With five wins from 11 games, they have enjoyed a highly respectable debut season.
Trinity
1 Harry Ratcliffe; 28 Thomas Delaney, 30 Noah Booth, 3 Will Brough, 5 Fredrik Ziegler; 6 Josh Phillips, 7 Rowan Stephenson; 8 Ellis Lingard, 26 Harvey Smith, 10 Oliver Maher, 11 Finnley Thompson, 29 Ethan Wood, 13 Zach McSwiney
Bench:
9 Jack Easton, 15 Harvey Roberts, 16 Alfie Briggs, 20 Wes Brown
Tries:
Siegler (51), Wood (56), Roberts (61), Booth (64)
Goals:
Brough 3/ 4
Leopards
18 Lewis Fairhurst (capt); 2 Alfie Whittle, 25 Tom Nisbet, 4 Tj Boyd, 5 Liam Copland; 6 Ben Tyrer, 7 Matty Horrocks; 14 Dan Norman, 9 Tommy Porter, 11 Finley Beardsworth, 8 Ralph Wood, 12 Callum Disley, 13 Valu Tane Bentley
Bench:
20 Luke Sutcliffe, 27 Reece Stanton, 28 Sam Bardsley, 29 Ryan Lockett. 18th player: 15 Daniel Tabern
Tries:
Fairhurst (4), Porter (10), Whittle (29)
Goals:
Fairhurst 2/ 4
Scoring sequence:
0-4, 0-10, 0-14, 0-16 (ht) 6-16, 12-16, 16-16, 22-16
Referee: A Belafonte; Touch judges: J Hewitt & P Smith
