Reserves Championship Round 1
Leigh Leopards 34-24 Leeds Rhinos
At Leigh Miners Rangers Academy, Saturday 9 March 2024 (2pm)
Leigh Leopards opened their Reserves Championship campaign with a splendid six-try victory over the Rhinos at the impressive Leigh Miners Rangers Academy facility.
Hooker Tommy Porter led the way with two tries with Jacob Gannon, Lewis Baxter, Callum Disley and Tom Nisbet also on the scoresheet, while Ben McNamara kicked five goals.
Head coach Stuart Littler was pleased with the performance coming off the back of last week’s warm up game defeat against Rochdale Hornets for the Gregg McNally testimonial..
“Full credit to the boys, to come out with a good performance against a strong Leeds Rhinos side,” he said. “I’m really made up for the boys.”
“We spoke all week about Leeds being a standard bearer for youth development and knew we had to be on our mettle. We tried a few combinations last week, especially in the second half, and we grew on the back of it. It gave us loads of learning points which we put into application this week.”
Eight first team squad members mixed with newcomers to the Leopards ranks who have joined the Reserves set-up over the winter and the cohesion and shape was impressive.
“As a group everyone had something to play for,” Littler explained. “The first team boys are trying to get their jerseys to be the next cab off the rank if there are injuries or suspensions. While success for others may be contracts in the professional game. Again, that shows we are developing players for the future.”
Porter falls in the latter category, and he caught the eye on his impressive debut. “Tommy’s great,” Littler said. “He’s a London boy from the University of Manchester and his commitment to the cause is second to none. I’m really pleased he’s got the just rewards for the training he’s done. He’s working hard at his game and he’s a pleasure to coach.”
The Academy facility also was praised by the Rhinos camp and is an ideal venue for Reserves games. “This facility is second to none in the amateur game,” Littler said. “It’s got all the dimensions for a free-flowing game, and we showed that today.”
Though the Rhinos struck first through Ned McCormack, the Leopards soon slipped into gear on the back of impressive work by the pack. Louis Brogan played outstandingly for 80 minutes, and Baxter and Gannon were to the fore. Oli Holmes made a successful return from injury in the second row.
Gannon, Porter, Baxter and Disley all scored in an entertaining first half with McNamara on target with all four conversions, the Rhinos adding a second try through Ben Littlewood.
Leopards stretched their lead to 30-8 with Porter’s second try early in the second half and Nisbet added his side’s sixth try with a piece of quick thinking. Reacting quickly to a short goal-line drop out, he kicked ahead and won the race for the touchdown.
The Rhinos finished strongly with Jack Sinfield leading the way impressively. He scored two second half tries through good footwork close to the line and Littlewood grabbed his second try just before referee Adam Williams brought an entertaining game to a close.
Leopards:
5 Lewis Fairhurst; 31 Jack Darbyshire, 25 Tom Nisbet, 4 Ed Chamberlain, 2 Alfie Whittle; 6 Ben McNamara, 7 Matt Horrocks; 30 Louis Brogan, 9 Tommy Porter, 29 Lewis Baxter, 11 Callum Disley, 20 Oliver Holmes, 26 Jacob Gannon.
Bench: 14 TJ Boyd, 17 Sam Bardsley, 10 Bailey Pemberton, 16 Reece Stanton.
Tries: Gannon (11), Porter (17, 43), Baxter (29), Disley (37), Nisbet (51);
Goals: McNamara 5/ 6.
Rhinos:
1 Alfie Edgell; 2 Riley Lumb, 3 Ned McCormack, 4 Jack Smith, 5 Josh Gillespie; 6 Fergus McCormack, 7 Jack Sinfield; 8 Kieran Hudson, 9 Corey Johnson, 10 Freddie Brennan- Jones, 11 Ben Littlewood, 12 Harrison Gilmore, 13 Tom Nicholson-Watton.
Bench: 14 Mason Corbett, 15 Bobby Hartley, 16 Ashton Robinson, 17 Kyden Frater.
Tries: N McCormack (4), Littlewood (31, 78), Sinfield (47, 66)
Goals: Sinfield 3/ 5
Scores: 0-4, 6-4, 12-4, 18-4, 18-8, 24-8 (ht) 30-8, 30-14, 34-14, 34-20, 34-24.
Half-time: 24-8
Penalty count: 12-11
Referee: A Williams; Touch judges: I Arnold & T Arnold
