Saturday 24 May 2025

Betfred Women’s Super League Round 2

Leopards Den (noon)

Leigh Leopards 42-6 Warrington Wolves

Leopards made it two wins from two as they completed a seven-try high noon encounter with the Wolves in good shape.

Charlotte Melvin tagged on seven goals from as many attempts to extend the winning margin to a comprehensive margin and complete a successful opening two rounds in the topflight.

Successive home games over Barrow and Warrington were earmarked as vital by head coach Kieron Purtill and the four points Leopards have earned will help consolidate their hard-won Super League status.

Amy Taylor, on loan from St Helens, helped give the Leopards direction and creativity at halfback while hooker Kate Howard was outstanding with her pace and opportunism off the bench.

But Ireland international centre Mollie Young faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken arm.

Once Mackenzie Taylor opened the scoring on the right following a 20-metre scrum an appreciative crowd was treated to some bright and flowing rugby.

Abby Latchford and Emily Baggaley both scored against their former club while Howard darted away from a static defence with her first touch of the ball.

Wolves’ best player, hooker Dani Bound, pulled back a try before halftime with ex-Leopards’ halfback Emma Knowles adding the conversion.

Leopards dominated after the break and added three further tries through Howard, Abi Johnston (also against her former club) and Hattie Dogus.

Eleanor Dainty and Lucy Johnson added power and impetus off the bench in the forwards as Leopards stayed in control of a contest that had long disappeared from the Wolves’ grasps.

Leopards

Hattie Dogus; Toryn Blackwood, Mackenzie Taylor, Mollie Young, Abi Johnston; Amy Taylor, Leah Morris; Emily Baggaley, Rhianna Burke, Alice Fisher, Storm Cobain, Charlotte Melvin, Abby Latchford

Bench:

Kate Howard, Eleanor Dainty, Lucy Johnson, Sam Brazier

Tries:

M Taylor (9), Latchford (20), Howard (22, 49), Baggaley (27), Johnson (53), Dogus (60)

Goals:

Melvin 7/ 7

Wolves

Sydney Alderman-Smith; Hollie Brussels, Kerrie Evans, Hannah Goddard, Isabelle Malyon; Hollie Gregory, Emma Knowles; Jess Panayiotou, Dani Bound, Megan Condliffe, Emily Downs, Olivia Argent, Millie Bell

Bench:

Ellie Dooney, Albany-D Coates, Emma Lowe, Charlotte Nixon

Try:

Bound (36)

Goal:

Knowles 1/ 1

Scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 24-6 (ht) 30-6, 36-6, 42-6

Referee: O Taylor; Touch-judges: A Beeley & E Watson