Betfred Super League Round 18
Leopards Den
Saturday 12 July 2025 (3pm)
Leigh Leopards 28-10 Hull KR
Leopards completed back=to-back victories over the top two clubs in the Betfred Super League, putting on a sizzling attacking show to match the scorching weather.
With pitch side temperatures in the early 30s, Leopards turned on the style to blow the league leaders away with a compelling display which moved them to third, five points off the top.
Leopards’ win was their first over Rovers since the 2023 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley 23 months ago, ending a sequence of six straight defeats, in which the last three of which they were ‘nilled’.
Josh Charnley rightly took the headlines for his 250th Super League try; a brilliant one-handed finish in the left corner in front of the North Stand.
He then brought the house down with his 251st try, just 12 seconds from the end, after fastening onto Lachlan Lam’s sublime kick.
Charnley’s first Super League try was 15 years ago when he was on loan to Hull KR from Wigan and he scored in the Hull derby.
His remarkable try-scoring feats were duly recognised by the near 10,000 crowd who created a fever pitch atmosphere throughout an outstanding game.
Only Leeds Rhinos’ Ryan Hall (260) has scored more Super League tries than Charnley.
Fresh from their derby day win over Wigan and fielding an unchanged team, Leopards hit the front when Lam provided the first of his try assists, Ethan O’Neill leaping like a young salmon above two defenders to shock the Rovers fans in the South Stand.
Tyrone May’s fine individual try, after an audacious dummy, brought the sides level but Leopards finished the half strongly.
Umyla Hanley brilliantly scythed through on the right from Lam’s pass and Keanan Brand stretched over to score one-handed after Hanley challenged Joe Burgess to Gareth o’Brien’s high kick.
14-6 ahead at half-time Leopards were penned back thanks to Kelepi Tanginoa’s brilliant one-handed finish in the right corner.
But that was as good as it got for Rovers, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats.
Without Man of Steel Mikey Lewis, sidelined under concussion protocols they lost his replacement, Danny Richardson to a leg injury in the first quarter and lacked their usual organisation in the middle.
The critical try was a classic, a brilliant near length-of-the field breakaway sparked by Tesi Niu’s outstanding run and finished by Lam’s superb support play.
With the North Stand in jubilant mood Charnley provided the perfect moment to give his side a two converted try cushion.
His one-handed finish by the flag after Lam, Gareth O’Brien and Niu combined was the mark of a master of the try-scoring art.
Rovers lost Jez Litten to the sin bin after obstructing Lam off the ball. As Litten then immediately left the field for an HIA, his replacement, Michael McIlorum, was shown the yellow card.
This outstanding game had a memorable finish, as Charnley’s second try, and Leopards’ sixth, wrapped up a terrific team performance.
Bailey Hodgson was a deserved Player of the Match again on a day when any one of his teammates could have won the accolade. Building on his stand-out show against Wigan, he was again in top form.
Leopards
Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Joe Ofahengaue, Ethan O’Neill, Frankie Halton, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Jack Hughes, Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis, Ben McNamara. 18th player (not used) Andrew Badrock
Tries:
O’Neill (8), Hanley (26), Brand (31), Lam (50), Charnley (64, 80)
Goals:
O’Brien 2/ 5, McNamara 0/ 1
Rovers
Arthur Mourge; Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Jack Broadbent, Joe Burgess; Danny Richardson, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Michael McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargeaves, Jai Whitbread, James Batchelor, Elliot Michella
Bench:
Jez Litten, Dean Hadley, Sam Luckley, Kelepi Tanginoa. 18th player (not used) Jack Brown
Tries:
May (19), Tanginoa (47)
Goals:
Mourge 1/ 2
Sin bin:
Litten (70) obstruction off the ball
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-6, 10-6, 14-6 (ht) 14-10, 20-10, 24-10, 28-10
Referee: Liam Moore
Touch judges: M Lynn & J Roberts
M Com: Tony Brown
Video referee: Jack Smith
Timekeeper: P Smith
Reserve referee: I Arnold
Penalty count: 4-2
Attendance: 9,682
Main Match Sponsor: Trojan Mechanical Services
Associate Match Sponsor: Jones Potts Taylor
Player of the Match sponsor: Aspire Joinery Limited – awarded to Bailey Hodgson
Match Ball Sponsor: David Lloyd Clubs, Chorley
Champagne Moment sponsor: Vaylia Integrated Security- awarded to Josh Charney for his 250th Sur League try
Official Kit & Retail Partner: Reebok
