Betfred Super League Round 9
Leigh Leopards 30-2 Catalans Dragons
Leopards ignited their season with a thrilling victory over the Dragons, their first ever in Super League, with Matt Moylan’s 14-point contribution headlining a superb team display.
While Moylan deservedly landed the player of the match accolade, he was pressed for individual honours by several teammates in what was a complete team performance.
Josh Charnley scored the only try of an intense first half and Kai O’Donnell led the second half victory charge with a brace of tries with Umyla Hanley and Moylan also crossing.
Leopards’ superb defensive effort paved the way for victory as they restricted the Dragons to a single penalty goal, holding out under several spells of sustained pressure.
Leading 6-2 at half-time, Leopards dominated the second half and played with increasing attacking freedom as the confidence flowed. The return of club captain John Asiata after injury was another reason to be happy.
Lachlan Lam and Moylan combined brilliantly in attack and their growing understanding underpinned the Leopards’ attacking options.
Lam cleverly changed the point of the attack, working the blindside for Moylan to send O’Donnell crashing over on a perfectly timed inside ball to open the second half scoring.
Then three minutes later Leopards kept the ball alive on the last tackle as Lam found Moylan at pace, his superb overhead pass deftly collected by Hanley to clinically finish in the right corner.
All the time Moylan was kicking the goals- he landed five from five- while supervising the defensive effort. Moylan wrapped up the rampaging Bayley Sironen to inspire his side and sum up his team’s resolve.
Asiata’s appearance from the bench on 54 minutes was cheered loudly and the Leopards talisman soon settled into the action.
Soon after the midway point of the second half Leopards wrapped up the points as Brad Dwyer’s elusive run had the Dragons chasing shadows and the supporting O’Donnell scythed through to score his second.
Moylan fittingly had the final say, fastening onto Asiata’s deft assist which wrongfooted the defence to leave the North Stand in raptures.
The sides had traded sets in a high class, error free but cagey opening with Dragons fullback Arthur Mourgue dealing capably with some testing kicks. The North Stand was in great voice and cheered as the Leopards dealt capably with the visitors’ first concerted attack.
Leopards turned defence into thrilling attack with the opening try as Tom Amone reacted quickly to Tariq Sims’ kick, gained possession and chased downfield for fully 50 metres. With the Dragons’ defence shorthanded Leopards shipped the ball swiftly to the left and Lam and Ricky Leutele created the opening for Charnley to charge over, Moylan landing the conversion.
Dragons stepped up the intensity but the home defence worked overtime to keep them out. Six minutes from the break, Arthur Romano claimed a try after picking up the pieces from a loose ball after Tom Johnstone challenged Zak Hardaker to Theo Fages’ high kick. But the video referee confirmed referee Aaron Moore’s on-field verdict of no try, confirming a knock-on the aerial challenge.
Leopards had almost closed out the Dragons until the dying seconds when Catalans were awarded their fourth successive penalty and Mourgue successfully coverted to reduce the half-time arrears to four points.
Leopards
6 Matt Moylan; 24 Umyla Hanley, 3 Zak Hardaker, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Josh Charnley; 21 Ben McNamara, 7 Lachlan Lam; 8 Tom Amone, 15 Matt Davis, 17 Owen Trout, 11 Kai O’Donnell, 16 Frankie Halton, 12 Jack Hughes
Bench:
14 Dan Norman, 20 Oliver Holmes, 13 John Asiata (capt), 33 Brad Dwyer. 18th player: 30 Louis Brogan
Tries: Charnley (26), O’Donnell (46, 64), Hanley (50), Moylan (73)
Goals: Moylan 5/ 5
Dragons
1 Arthur Mourgue; 2 Tom Davies, 21 Matt Ikuvalu, 3 Arthur Romano, 24 Tom Johnstone; 17 Cesar Rouge, 7 Theo Fages; 12 Paul Suguier, 14 Alrix Da Costa, 16 Romain Navarrete, 11 Tariq Sims, 15 Bayley Sironen, 13 Ben Garcia (capt)
Bench:
4 Mathieu Laguerre, 6 Jayden Nikorima, 20 Chris Satae, 28 Franck Maria. 18th player: 5 Fouad Yaha
Goals: Mourgue 1/ 1
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-2 (ht) 12-2, 18-2, 24-2, 30-2
Attendance: 7,321
Penalty count: 3-7
Referee: Aaron Moore; Touch-judges: R Thompson & S Ellis. Reserve referee: A Williams; Match commissioner: Tony Brown; Video referee: James Vella; Timekeeper: Peter Taberner
Main Match Sponsor: Laltex Group; Player of the Match Award: Advanced Steel Services (awarded to Matt Moylan); Match Ball Sponsor: PSL Plumbing & Heating; Match Programme Sponsor: NutraPrep’s; Official Kit and Retail Partner: Patrick
