Leigh Leopards Reserves 22-60 Rochdale Hornets
Stuart Littler’s Reserves side prepared for the start of the Reserves Championship and their opening game against Leeds Rhinos tomorrow afternoon by playing in the Gregg McNally testimonial at Twist Lane.
The former Leigh favourite was given a guard of honour as he took the field and rolled back the years with a try at the start of the second half, sealed by a trademark dive.
Leigh legend Martyn Ridyard, back on his old stomping ground, also marked the occasion with a try after a show and go.
Hornets, preparing for the start of their League One campaign, struggled in the first half as a Leopards side which included seven first team squad members put in a strong performance.
It took Ridyard’s try just before the interval to send Hornets in on level terms at 16-16.
Tommy Porter, Jacob Gannon and Callum Disley all scored tries for the Leopards and Jack Darbyshire kicked two conversions.
The second half was a different story, however, as Hornets ran in nine tries to seal a convincing victory.
Joe Hartley scored a hat-trick for Hornets with braces from Connor Ratcliffe and Myles Harrop.
Daniel Tabern scored the Leopards’ only second half try, converted by Ben McNamara just before the hour-mark, which reduced the deficit to 22-34.
Gregg McNally said: “It was a good turn out by the Leigh and Rochdale fans, and I’d like to thank them for their support. I felt emotional coming out and thought about my family and all the sacrifices they’ve made so I can play this game.
“My mum and dad for running me all over the country and my wife Rosie for looking after the kids while I train and play. So today was as much about them as it was about me.”
Martyn Ridyard added: “It was a big day for Gregg and a good turn out for him. It was nice to be playing on my old ground and I felt I had one more try in me.
“We were quite sloppy as a team in the first half, but we turned things around and got the job done, playing in some good areas in the second half.”
Leopards: Lewis Fairhurst; Alfie Whittle, Tom Nisbet, Umyla Hanley, Jack Darbyshire; Ben McNamara, Matthew Horrocks; Louis Brogan, Tommy Porter, Lewis Baxter, Callum Disley, Bailey Pemberton, Jacob Gannon.
Bench: TJ Boyd, Oscar Hansen, Samuel Bardsley, Reece Stanton, Ralph Wood, Cameron Cullen, Daniel Tabern, Luke Sutcliffe, Ryan Lockett, Jacob Bourdet, Callum Gittins
Tries: Porter (9), Gannon (21), Disley (34), Tabern (58)
Goals: Darbyshire 2, McNamara
Hornets: McNally; Forber, Hartley, Harrop, Nixon; Ridyard, Else; Nelmes, Rudd, Brannan, Ratcliffe, Straugheir, Forster. Bench: Davies, Barraclough, Brennan, Andrade, Trialist, Flanagan, Killan.
Tries: Hartley 3, Ridyard, McNally, Flanagan, Ratcliffe 2, Harrop 2, Else, Forber
Goals: Ridyard 5, Trialist
Half-time: 16-16. Referee: Warren Turley.
Next Reserves fixture
Reserves Championship: Leigh Leopards v Leeds Rhinos, at Leigh Miners Rangers Rugby League Academy, Sutton Park, Manchester Road, Leigh WN7 2LZ, Sat 9 March 2024 (2pm KO)
