Sunday 11 May 2025
Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens (4:15pm)
Warrington Wolves 21-14 Leigh Leopards
Leopards lost a great opportunity of returning to Wembley with a below par performance against an injury depleted Warrington at St Helens.
This Cup semi-final defeat was due to Leopards failing to take a grasp of the game despite being given a dream start by Edwin Ipape’s first minute try.
Marc Sneyd, only a fortnight after fracturing an eye socket, laid the foundations for his side and made up for the injury absence of talisman George Williams.
Wolves took a 15-4 lead into the interval with tries by Roderick Tai and the outstanding Paul Vaughan, scored in the space of four minutes, and seven points from Sneyd’s boot.
Leopards threatened a second half comeback with the first of Tesi Niu’s brace but never put together enough consistent spells of pressure. When they carved out opportunities they lacked the precision to finish them off.
Toby King’s try 14 minutes from time confirmed Wolves’ return to Wembley despite Niu’s second late on.
Though each side scored three tries Sneyd’s masterly display of tactical and place kicking proved the decisive factor.
Leopards were far from their best in both attack and defence, saving one of their most unconvincing performances for one of the season’s most important games.
Wolves
Matt Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Roderick Tai, Matty Ashton; Stefan Ratchford, Marc Sneyd; Luke Yates, Sam Powell, Paul Vaughan, Adam Holroyd, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Ben Currie
Bench:
James Harrison, Joe Philbin, Jordy Crowther, Arron Lindop. 18th player: Zane Musgrove (not used)
Tries:
Tai (12), Vaughan (15), King (66)
Goals:
Sneyd 4/ 4
Drop-goal:
Sneyd (40)
Leopards
David Armstrong; Darnell McIntosh, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Ethan O’Neill, Jack Hughes, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Matt Davis, Ben McNamara, Bailey Hodgson, Joe Ofahengaue. 18th player: Alec Tuitavake (not used)
Tries:
Ipape (1), Niu (47,70)
Goals:
O’Brien 1/ 3
Scoring sequence:
0-4, 6-4, 12-4, 14-4, 15-4 (ht) 15-8, 21-8, 21-14
Referee: Liam Moore
Penalty count: 7-4
Attendance: 11,722
