Betfred Super League Round 5
Sunday 23 March 2025
Hull KR 30-0 Leigh Leopards
Sewell Group Craven Park (3pm)
Leopards stayed second in the Super League table but suffered their first defeat of the season as Rovers stretched their lead at the top to three points.
Since losing to the Leopards at Wembley in 2023 Rovers have won each of the six meetings between the two teams. They have also ‘nilled’ Adrian Lam’s men on each of the last three occasions.
Rovers have improved on last season’s formidable side that reached the grand final, with a dominant, physical forward pack and some fast and inventive backs.
Once again Mikey Lewis, the 2024 Man of Steel, was a big thorn in Leigh’s side, scoring two tries, creating another and kicking five goals.
But it was far from a one man show as Rovers held the initiative for large portions of the game and rarely gave the visitors a glimpse of their line.
It was a day to forget for the Leopards who now need to put this game behind them as they prepare for back-to-back league and cup fixtures against Wakefield Trinity.
Rovers started the game strongly and never looked back once ex-Leigh centre Oliver Gildart sliced over on the left after only seven minutes.
With a strong wind at their backs Rovers bossed possession and extended their lead when Lewis skipped over when the ball came loose from Elliot Minchella’s drive in a massed tackle.
Just five minutes of a one sided first half remained when Lewis offloaded in the tackle for the supporting Kelepi Tanginoa to score.
The seconds were ticking down when Rovers staged another sweeping move, ending with Lewis collecting Joe Burgess’s deft inside kick to score his side’s fourth try and set up a 22-0 interval lead.
In isolated attacks Leopards had chances. Bailey Hodgson had a try in the corner ruled out for a double movement, a long Umyla Hanley break came to nothing, and Lewis robbed Lachlan Lam of the ball just short of the goal-line.
Leopards needed an early second half score to get back in the game but started poorly, conceding possession from the kick-off and again forced into long spells of desperate rearguard action.
Tesi Niu had a couple of barnstorming runs but overall the Rovers rearguard was resilient and never slackened in intensity.
Rovers added to their tally when Lewis kicked a penalty goal with 15 minutes remaining and when winger Tom Davies scored their fifth and final try of the game, Lewis converted from the touchline.
Rovers
Jack Broadbent; Tom Davies, Peter Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess; Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Michael McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella
Bench:
Jez Litten, Jai Whitbread, Sam Luckley, Kelepi Tanginoa. 18th player: Jack Brown
Tries:
Gildart (7), Lewis (14, 40), Tanginoa (35), Davies (69)
Goals: Lewis 5/ 6
Leopards
David Armstrong; Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Bailey Hodgson; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Alec Tuitavake, Ethan O’Neill, Jack Hughes, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Aaron Pene, Matty Davis, Brad Dwyer, Louis Brogan. 18th player: Andrew Badrock
Referee: Liam Moore; Touch judges: D Arnold & R Cox; Reserve referee: J Pemberton.
Video referee: Ben Thaler; Timekeeper: T Randerson; M Com: M Hawkes
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0 (ht) 24-0, 30-0
Penalty count: 6-4; GLDO: 0-1
