Leigh Leopards 8-16 Huddersfield Giants

Leigh Leopards’ opening Betfred Super League game of the season ended in disappointment as the Giants earned a narrow win in a scrappy and disjointed encounter at the Leopards Den.

The Giants took their chances and defended well for long periods to avenge home and away defeats against the Leopards last season.

After a fluent warm up victory at Warrington, the Leopards failed to recapture their usual fluency and cohesion on attack. You must go back to 1989 for the last time Leigh won their opening fixture of a top-flight season.

One consolation was a bumper crowd of 8,508 on a soggy evening- the highest for a home league game against Huddersfield since 1955.

The stadium looked a picture with the fans bedecked in Leopards’ shirts and favours and an immaculately held minute’s silence paid due respect to past Chairman and Club President Brian Bowman, who passed away at the age of 88.

The Leopards suffered an early injury blow when influential hooker Edwin Ipape limped off after only 11 minutes with a medial ligament injury.

By then the Giants were in front through Esan Marsters’ converted try, after Jake Connor knocked back Oliver Russell’s testing high kick. Though Josh Charnley got the Leopards off the mark with a classy finish in the corner from Matt Moylan’s deft grubber kick, Adam Milner fought his way over for a second Giants’ try, again converted by Russell.

A tense second half deadlock was broken when Elliot Wallis marked his Giants debut with a try by the corner flag with 16 minutes remaining. Tom Briscoe responded with a similar effort for the Leopards before time ran out.

Usually known for excellent discipline, the Leopards had captain John Asiata and Ricky Leutele sin binned during what was at times a fractious encounter and lost debutant Moylan for ten minutes for a HIA which further disrupted their attack in a crucial period before half-time.

Leopards head coach Adrian Lam said: “I’m very disappointed. You have your whole pre-season to set up for that. We’ve been good at it for four months, but there were too many errors tonight and we put ourselves under pressure with low completions and indiscipline.

“I thought Huddersfield were really great tonight, they had plenty of energy and kept it really simple and did everything right, so full credit to them.

“You want to win your first game at home, we’ve strengthened our team, but the first six rounds are sometimes a poke in the dark and you’ve got to do your best to get through.

“In those situations when we’re not completing high or making a lot of errors, we can’t do that in this competition. It’s a rough start but we’ll be OK.”

Leopards: O’Brien; Briscoe, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley; Moylan, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O’Donnell, Hughes, Asiata (capt).

Bench: Norman, Davis, Halton, Nakubuwai (all played). 18^th man Trout not used.

Tries: Charnley (22), Briscoe (73); Goals; Hardaker 0/ 2.

Sin-bin: Asiata (34), Leutele (43).

Giants: Connor; Wallis, Marsters, Naiqama, Swift; Clune, Russell; Hill, Milner, Ikahihifo, Murchie, Hewitt, Cudjoe.

Bench: Golding, English, Wilson, Salabio (all played). 18^th man Rogers not used.

Tries: Tries: Marsters (10), Milner (34), Wallis (64); Goals: Russell 2/ 3.

Referee: Jack Smith. Attendance: 8,508; Half-time: 4-12.

Main Match sponsor: Skyrise Installations

Associate Match sponsor: David Lloyd Chorley

Player of the Match Sponsor: Simply Green Turfing Specialists, awarded to Zak Hardaker

Match Ball Sponsor: Local Mobility UK

Official Kit and Retail partner: Patrick