Betfred Women’s Super League Round 7

Sunday 13 July 2025 (noon)

York Valkyrie 28-4 Leigh Leopards

LNER Community Stadium

Leopards gave arguably their best performance of their inaugural season in the topflight so far despite defeat at a sweltering LNER Stadium.

The reigning Super League champions are a talented all-round team packed with some superb athletes and a tough test for any visitors.

But Leopards refused to be intimidated by reputation or the tough conditions as they competed set for set and had a fair share of possession and territory.

Head coach Kieron Purtill can be rightly proud of the progress of his team, who went into the game missing several regulars due to injury and unavailability.

Valkyrie gave debuts to former Leeds Rhino Adoaha Akwiwu and Ugandan Peace Lekuru and had 2023 Woman of Steel Sinead Peach on the bench as an indication of their enviable selection options.

Leopards matched them in all departments except that of taking opportunities that came their way.

Evie Sexton broke the deadlock by exploiting a Leopards handling error and scything through on a repeat set.

Leopards trailed only 6-0 on the half hour, unable to turn decent spells of pressure into points.

Reigning Woman of Steel Georgie Dagger made them pay with a classy second try for Valkyrie, making space for herself with a dummy before her sublime change of pace sent her clear.

The home side added a third try when Tamzin Renouf somehow grounded in a massed tackle.

But just before the hooter sounded Abi Johnston scored the try that Leopards deserved, fastening on to Emma Knowles’s kick to score in the left corner.

Knowles, a stand-out for Leopards in 2023, has rejoined the club from Warrington and formed a good halfback partnership with Amy Taylor, on loan from Saints.

Captain Storm Cobain was playing her second game in under 24 hours after winning Ireland’s Player of the Match award in their 34-4 defeat to France in Dublin.

Valkyrie came out firing in the second half and increased their lead when Agnes Wood went in under the posts.

Leopards refused to throw in the towel and more than held their own for the next half an hour, combining superbly in defence and threatening on more than one occasion.

Just seven minutes remained when Eboni Partington completed the scoring after the talented Valkyrie team created the opportunity with a fine series of offloads.

At the halfway stage of the season Leopards are sixth in the eight-team league having beaten Barrow and Warrington at home.

They are level on four points with Barrow but have a superior points difference (-98 to -198) and are four points clear of Warrington, who have lost each of the seven games and have a negative points difference of 362.

Wigan Warriors (13pts), Saints (12pts), York (10pts) and Leeds (7pts) comprise the top four with Huddersfield (6pts) in fifth.

Next Saturday Leopards travel to play St Helens, who are unbeaten with five wins and two draws.

The following Sunday (27 July) their return game at Barrow is of vital importance.

Valkyrie

Eboni Partington; Peace Lekuru, Lisa Parker, Adaoha Akwiwu, Ellie Williamson; Georgie Dagger, Tamsin Renouf; Agnes Wood, Izzy Bibby, Sarah Menaa, Savannah Andrade, Evie Sexton, Jas Bell

Bench:

Sinead Peach, Charlotte McDaid, T’leesha Frederick-Maynard, Tara Moxon

Tries:

Sexton (15), Dagger (30), Renouf (34), A Wood (42), Partington (73)

Goals:

Williamson 4/ 5

Leopards

Becky Greenfield; Toryn Blackwood, Rhianna Burke, Storm Cobain, Abi Johnston; Amy Taylor, Emma Knowles; Eleanor Dainty, Kate Howard, Lucy Johnson, Keli Morris, Hannah Roberts, Abby Latchford

Bench:

Alice Fisher, Abi Gordon, Sam Brazier, Claire Collins

Tries:

Johnston (40)

Goals:

Taylor 0/1

Scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 16-0, 16-4 (ht) 22-4, 28-4

Referee: B Worsley

Touch judges: G Cox & D Frederick