Betfred Challenge Cup Round 4
Sunday 16 March 2025
Leopards Den (3pm)
Leigh Leopards 62-4 Batley Bulldogs
Leopards moved smoothly into the last eight of the Betfred Challenge Cup, running in 12 tries against a brave Bulldogs side on a sunny afternoon at the Leopards Den.
Ten different players were on the scoresheet including try braces by Umyla Hanley and Keanan Brand, who again formed a dynamic right-wing partnership. Ben McNamara took over the kicking duties from Gareth O’Brien to kick seven goals.
Hanley set the ball rolling with a smart finish on the right wing and started the second half with a superb length-of-the-field effort.
Brand cut down the middle to score a brilliant individual try for the Leopards’ second try and combined with Hanley for his second try early after the resumption.
The only blot on the day was Darnell McIntosh, back after a leg injury, suffering a shoulder injury scoring a spectacular try by the left corner flag.
As Leopards dominated the first half, attacking the North Stand, Lachlan Lam broke free to score his first two tries of the season, Tesi Niu blasted over and Matt Davis celebrated his 200th career game with another try.
Leopards smoothly went through their attacking moves as they maintained their shape and structure in a one-sided second half, as the Bulldogs showed good work rate to keep the score down.
The visitors were rewarded for their efforts when fullback Robbie Butterworth cut over on the left midway through the second half.
Leopards finished as they started, in dominant fashion. Andrew Badrock fastened onto Lam’s pass to bring up the half century before Aaron Pene went under the posts. As the clock ticked down the outstanding Owen Trout notched his first try in Leopards colours, in his 36th successive game, with a spectacular diving finish.
Leopards
1 David Armstrong; 18 Keanan Brand, 4 Umyla Hanley, 3 Tesi Niu, 2 Darnell McIntosh; 22 Ben McNamara, 7 Lachlan Lam; 8 Owen Trout, 9 Edwin Ipape, 14 Aaron Pene, 20 Ethan O’Neill, 21 Andrew Badrock, 13 Isaac Liu
Bench:
19 Luis Brogan, 24 Bailey Hodgson, 16 Matt Davis, 17 Brad Dwyer. 18th player: Nathan Wilde
Tries:
Hanley (6, 43), Brand (13, 52), McIntosh (16), Lam (25, 40), Niu (27), Davis (32), Badrock (68), Pene (76), Trout (80)
Goals:
McIntosh 0/ 1, McNamara 7/ 11
Bulldogs
1 Robbie Butterworth; 19 Jack Render, 2 Joe Burton, 26 Alfie Dean, 5 Elliot Kear; 6 Ben White, 7 Josh Woods; 14 Brandon Moore, 9 Alistair Leak, 17 Luke Blake, 3 Ollie Greensmith, 21 Kieren Hepworth, 22 Eliot Peposhi
Bench:
Jonah Parson, 16 Michard Ward, 20 Paul Chitakunye, 34 Sam Marshall. 18th player: Luca Atkinson
Try:
Butterworth (63)
Goals:
Woods 0/ 1
Referee: Liam Rush; Touch judges: T Jones & T Gibbs; Reserve referee: I Arnold; M Com: A Brown; Timekeeper: A Mills
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 10-0, 14-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 36-0 (ht) 42-0, 46-0, 46-4, 50-4, 56-4, 62-4
Attendance: 4,717
Penalty count: 6-6
Main Match Sponsor: The Centurion
Player of the Match Sponsor: BD Construction- awarded to Keanan Brand
Match Ball Sponsor: PSL Plumbing & Heating
Champagne Moment Sponsor: Caton Lloyd Audio Visual Solutions- awarded to Umyla Hanley for his second try
Official Kit & Retail Sponsor: Reebok
