Academy, Salford Community Stadium
Saturday 21 June 2025 (noon)
Salford Red Devils Academy 22-28 Leigh Leopards Academy
Leigh Leopards Academy made history on a hot and sultry afternoon in Salford, winning for the first time since the team was re-formed this season.
Leopards’ win completed a wonderful few days for the club’s burgeoning junior set-up after the Scholarship team earned their first win of the season, defeating Bradford Bulls 28-20 at Leigh RU club on Wednesday.
Make no mistake- these are significant landmarks in the club’s history and reward all the hard work of coaches, players and sponsors to back the club’s vision in developing the infrastructure of the junior pathway after a gap of many years.
In the last six or seven months since the teams were formed the amount of work that has been put in has been monumental.
There have been some dark days with heavy defeats against established clubs, but these two wins are a significant step forward and fulfil a major objective of Head of Youth Kieron Purtill, Stuart Littler and the rest of the coaching team..
After six defeats at the hands of some of the game’s big guns, the last four without scoring, Leopards Academy knew that this game against fellow newcomers Salford represented their best opportunity of success.
The two evenly matched teams produced an enthralling game with Leopards’ never-say-die attitude proving the decisive factor.
Right winger Noel Gardner-Lewis was the hero of the hour with a sparkling hat-trick which included the match-winner eight minutes from time.
Gardner-Lewis produced a superb one-handed finish by the flag as the cover came across to give his team the lead for the first time.
Lucas Tyrer sealed the victory with a late penalty, his fourth successful kick of the game.
Salford halfback Dan Jenkinson was the game’s star performer, setting up an early score for Jayden Tyson and scoring a fine individual try early in the second half.
Matty Eden, who forced his way over by the side of the posts, and fullback Rhyley Hyde, with a try in the right corner, were Salford’s other try scorers.
But Leopards showed great teamwork and determination in the draining conditions with Gardner-Lewis and Max Lilley both crossing in the first half. Tyrer’s penalty right on half-time tied the scores at 12-12 after Salford suffered the first of two yellow cards.
Gardner-Lewis’s second try and a smart finish from hooker Reece Robinson helped Leopards pull level at 22-22 before the dramatic late winner.
Red Devils
Rhyley Hyde; Connor Stubbs, Sam Littler, Joe Griffiths, Jayden Tyson; Lewis Pilling, Dan Jenkinson; Harrison Hope, Fin Walker, Matty Eden, Noah Appleby, Fin Buckley, Jacob Walker
Bench:
Ellis Clarke, Sam Bradbury, Jacob Morris, Lucas Roper. 18th player: Rory Greenhalgh
Tries: Tyson (8), Eden (31), Jenkinson (46), Hyde (60)
Goals:
Jenkinson 3/ 4
Sin bin: Eden (40), Walker (79)
Leopards
Leyton Hull; Noel Gardner-Lewis, Dylan Hughes, Zak Mannion, Brad McDonough; Lucas Tyrer, Noel Rafferty; Oliver Stankevitch, Reece Robinson, Layton Jupp, Max Lilley, Jayden Aaron, Henry Parker
Bench:
Joe Higgins Meadows, Harry Knowles, Jack Mather, Leon Stretton, 18th player: Jack Tinsley
Tries: Gardner-Lewis (19,49, 72), Lilley (38), Robinson (65)
Goals: Tyrer 4/ 6
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-4, 12-4, 12-10, 12-12 (ht) 18-12, 18-16, 22-16, 22-22, 22-26, 22-28
Referee: J Hughes; Touch judges: E Wright & A Hawley
