Betfred Super League Round 24
Leigh Leopards 34 Huddersfield Giants 16
History was made at the Leopards Den as Leigh Leopards consolidated their top four place in Betfred Super League as they completed a double over the Giants with a six-try victory.
For the first time in Rugby League history a game was resumed on a different day after being halted on the Friday due to floodlight failure.
Leading 16-12 after 48 minutes from Friday, the Leopards had scored tries by Josh Charnley (2) and Tom Briscoe and bombed several more opportunities in what had been a superbly entertaining game.
Charnley’s brace saw him become the leading try scorer in a top flight Leigh season, two ahead of John Woods, who scored 23 tries in division one in 1983-84, an outstanding achievement.
On a red hot Sunday afternoon the Leopards treated the large crowd to a superb display as they added three more tries. Edwin Ipape burst through to score in front of the North Stand, John Asiata completed a superb move instigated by Frankie Halton and Joe Mellor, and Lachlan Lam raced from deep inside his own half for a magical interception try.
Sam Halsall did get one try to add to Jake Connor’s brace on Friday for the Giants and at 22-16 the issue was still in the balance until Asiata’s try set up the Leopards for a dominant finish.
Zac Hardaker celebrated his 350th career game while Ben Reynolds kicked five goals to take him within 23pts of the thousand mark for the club. There was a welcome return after injury for Frankie Halton off the bench.
Leopards: O’Brien; Briscoe, Hardaker, Gildart, Charnley; Reynolds, Lam; Mulhern, Ipape, Amone, Hughes, O’Donnell, Asiata. Bench: Halton, Nakubuwai, Mellor, Wardle.
Tries: Charnley 2, Briscoe, Ipape, Asiata, Lam; Goals: Reynolds 5.
Giants: Pryce; Halsall, Bibby, Naiqama, Marsters; Connor, Lolohea; Hill, Milner, English, Cudjoe, McQueen, Yates. Bench: Peats, Wilson, Hewitt, Ikahihifo.
Tries: Connor 2, Halsall; Goals: Pryce 2
Referee: Liam Moore. Attendance: 6,064.