Betfred Women’s Super League Round 12
Saturday 30 August 2025
Golborne Parkside ARLFC (noon)
Leigh Leopards 20-20 Huddersfield Giants
Leopards had to be satisfied with a share of the points after a thrilling game at Golborne ended all square.
Kieron Purtill’s team built on last week’s encouraging display in defeat against Leeds to give one of their best displays of the season against the fifth best team in Super League.
Despite losing influential halfback Leah Morris to an eye injury midway through the first half and Mollie Young late on to a HIA Leopards gave as good as they got in a highly physical encounter.
Many of the Leopards players have stepped up massively this year to the rise in competition, none more so than young Lucy Johnson who was again outstanding in the middle. She took on the Giants pack from the start and was an inspiration to the rest of her teammates.
Alyx Bridge, in her second game on loan from Saints, skipper Kate Howard and back row pair Storm Cobain and Charlotte Melvin were other stand-outs.
Leopards made a strong start, establishing a 10-0 lead inside the opening quarter.
Young scored wide out on the left after Hattie Dogus joined the attacking line to good effect to fasten onto Morris’s slick pass.
Johnson twisted in a massed tackle to force her way over the line after Bridge and Howard provided the impetus to another sustained attack, Melvin adding the goal.
Leopards kept a wary eye on Giants fullback Amelia Brown, who had scored a total of nine tries in the previous two games between the teams.
But Giants have some other talented backs in their ranks and centre Fran Copley reduced the arrears with a great inside line after Bethan Oates and Brown combined.
Leopards were good value for their 10-4 interval lead but made a disastrous start to the second half.
Within two minutes Madison Clegg swooped on a loose pass that went to ground and raced 70 metres for a breakaway try that Sam Hulme converted.
Then Brown was awarded a doubtful try after going over in a heap of bodies after more than a hint of double movement, Hulme again converting.
Leopards fought back and Johnson and Melvin both provided the momentum for Cobain to elude four would-be tacklers and go in for a try under the posts, Melvin converting to tie the scores at 16-16.
With both teams sensing their opportunities, Giants struck next when Copley was awarded a close range try after successive penalties gave the visitors momentum.
Eva Izumi was yellow carded by referee Taylor for a high tackle after the game grew increasingly physical and Leopards took advantage of the extra player when Mackenzie Taylor fastened onto Rhianna Burke’s outstanding pass to score too far wide out for Melvin to convert.
Both teams had their chances to get the winner in a breathless finish with Abi Johnston twice going close for the Leopards. Dogus and Johnston then combined in a fantastic double tackle that denied the rampaging Lois Naidole a last gasp try for the Giants.
Leopards staged a thank-you afternoon as part of the double header with the Academy game to recognise team and player sponsors who have all contributed so much to this inaugural season in the topflight. Again Golborne were the perfect hosts as a crowd of several hundred saw a memorable game.
Leopards
Hattie Dogus; Toryn Blackwood, Mackenzie Taylor, Mollie Young, Abi Johnston; Rhianna Burke, Leah Morris; Alice Fisher, Kate Howard, Lucy Johnson, Alyx Bridge, Charlotte Melvin, Storm Cobain
Bench:
Katie Palmer, Becky Greenfield, Emily Baggaley, Hannah Roberts. 18th player Keli Morris (not used)
Tries:
Young (3), Johnson (16), Cobain (57), Taylor (67)
Goals:
Melvin 2/ 4
Giants
Amelia Brown; Tilly Davies, Eva Izumi, Fran Copley, Faye Barraclough; Bethan Oates, Sam Hulme; Gracie Hobbs, Meg Preston, Jess Harrop, Amy Bennett, Madison Hutchison, Lois Naidole
Bench:
Lauren Exley, Skye Jackson, Madison Clegg, Freya Whitehead. 18th player: Sienna McPherson (not used)
Tries:
Copley (25, 62), Clegg (42), Brown (48)
Goals:
Hulme 2/ 4
Sin bin:
Izumi (68) high tackle
Scoring sequence:
4-0, 10-0, 10-4 (ht) 10-10, 10-16, 16-16, 16-20, 20-20
Referee: O Taylor; Touch judges: N Khan & G Wright
Penalty count: 4-5
