Reserves, Sutton Park, Saturday 4 May 2024 (1pm)
Leigh Leopards 32-42 Castleford Tigers
Leopards Reserves suffered from an amazing turnaround in fortunes as the Tigers staged a stunning second half comeback in a spectacular game at Sutton Park.
Seemingly in control after playing some superb flowing football, Leopards surged into a commanding 28-0 lead after only 32 minutes and were 32-8 ahead early in the second half.
But a youthful Tigers team dominated the closing stages to score six tries and turn the game on its head.
Left winger Alfie Lindsey was one of the Tigers heroes with a hat-trick of tries with others from halfback Jaiden Linford, forwards Finn Yeaman, Akim Matvejev, Alfie Hawkhead and Josh Hodson, Alfie Dean kicking five goals.
Hooker Tommy Porter, back from injury, continued where he left off earlier in the season, scoring a superb first half hat-trick for the Leopards.
Tigers seemingly had no answer to Porter’s incisive dummy half play which also helped lay the foundations for some bright attacking play.
Former Newcastle academy winger Cameron Cuulen bagged a wing brace and first team squad member Jack Darbyshire also crossed with Lewis Fairhurst kicked four goals- before that incredible Tigers comeback.
Oscar Hansen, son of former Leigh favourite Lee Hansen, made his Leopards Reserves debut in a side which also featured Barrow Raiders dual registration pair Finn McMilland and Delaine Gittens-Bedward.
Leopards
1 Lewis Fairhurst; 22 Cameron Cullen, 3 Finn McMillan, 4 Jack Darbyshire, 2 Alfie Whittle; 6 Ben Tyrer, 7 Matthew Horrocks; 8 Harry Ashworth, 9 Tommy Porter, 20 Delaine Gittens-Bedward, 11 Callum Disley, 12 Valu Bentley, 10 Luke Sutciffe
Bench:
14 TJ Boyd, 13 Sam Bardsley, 21 Oscar Hansen, 17 Reece Stanton. 18th player: 16 Dan Tabern
Tries: Cullen (4, 48), Porter (14, 22, 32), Darbyshire (25)
Goals: Fairhurst 4/ 6
Tigers
6 Fletcher Rooney; 2 Daniel Sarbah, 14 Josh Hodson, 4 Alfie Dean, 5 Alfie Lindsey; 21 Will Groves, 1 Jaiden Linford; 8 Akim Matvejev, 9 Finn Yeaman, 10 Jose Kenga, 11 Sam Darley, 12 Liam Carr, 13 Woody Walker
Bench: 16 Corey-Jay Sharpe, 35 Alfie Dale, 36 Alfie Salmon, 30 Alfie Hawkhead
Tries: Lindsey (35, 57, 75), Linford (45), Yeaman (65), Matvejev (72), Hawkhead (74), Hodson (79)
Goals: Dean 5/ 8
Referee: A Billington; Touch-judges: M Murphy & S Price; Penalty count: 7-14
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 28-0, 28-4 (ht) 28-8, 32-8, 32-12, 32-18, 32-24, 32-30, 32-36, 32-42
