Reserves, Saturday 8 March 2025
Golborne Parkside ARL (noon)
Leigh Leopards 22-30 Leeds Rhinos
Leopards began a new era in impressive style on a beautifully sunny early March afternoon at their new ground partner at Golborne.
With an academy and scholarship infrastructure now firmly behind them, Leopards fielded a young Reserves team comprising three first team squad members, half a dozen of last year’s Reserves players and the rest teenaged academy players.
They competed impressively against a powerful and well drilled Rhinos outfit in what was a highly entertaining game, watched by an appreciative crowd.
Reserves head coach Stuart Littler was pleased with the performance but disappointed not to get the win.
“Bit of a mixed bag, Frustrated,” he said. “I thought the game was there to be won but on the positive side we got some lads wearing a Leigh jersey, 16-17-year-old boys standing up against some men out there. I thought we defended strongly in the second half against a big strong wind out there and my frustration is that if we defend like that in the first half, we don’t allow them to get the field position to score points.
“Being a bit more ruthless after scoring – we opened the door a bit and invited Leeds back into the game. If we got two or three scores ahead, we win the ball game.
“It’s massive, we have a young academy this year, but that will give us growth and development and next year we will have 20 year twos. Excited about what happened today. We held our own against a good, organised outfit and were in the game right until the end.
“Golborne’s partnership is massively appreciated. The pitch was excellent, and the organisation of the day was fantastic. They couldn’t have done more for us.
“Speaking to Derek, Jukesy and Adrian everyone wants it to succeed. We will get stronger and stronger.
“The first year is always the hardest. Last year we had our Reserves for the first time and this year we have an academy for the first time. Next year we will have scholarship players going into the academy, academy players going into the reserves and we are showing them what it takes to be a Leigh Leopard and aim to become part of Adrian’s squad.”
Winger Diego Walker scored two tries for the Leopards, the first after only four minutes, the second late in the second half to drag his side back to within two points.
Nathan Wilde and TJ Boyd also scored first half tries with Ben McNamara kicking three goals.
Leopards
TJ Boyd; Diego Walker, Zak Mannion, Jack Darbyshire, James Parr; Ben McNamara, Ben Tyrer; Joseph Bradburn, Matthew Rudd, Nathan Wilde, Callum Disley, Bailey Pemberton, Luke Sutcliffe
Bench:
Henry Parker, Ralph Wood, Joseph Higgins-Meadows, Jayden Aaron. 18th player: Reece Galvin
Tries:
Walker (4, 69), Wilde (22), Boyd (33)
Goals:
McNamara 3/ 4
Rhinos
Joseph Diskin; Callum Webster, Jack Smith, Harley Thomas, Marcus Qareqare; Shane Tuohey, Harry Smith; Joseph Butterfield, Alexander Cowley, Toby Warren, Noah Whittingham, Oliver Smart, Presley Cassell
Bench:
Elliott Fox, Zak Lloyd, Lore Jones-Buchanan, Jayemm Oladipupo. 18th player: Dax Millington
Tries:
Webster (10), Qareqare (24, 39), Cassell (31), Whittingham (46), Lloyd (78)
Goals:
Thomas 3/ 6
Scoring sequence:
6-0, 6-4, 12-4, 12-8, 12-14, 18-14, 18-18 (ht) 18-24, 22-24, 22-30
Referee: M Clayton; Touch judges: I Carson and C Murphy
