Reserves Championship
Round 2, Community Field, Salford Community Stadium, Saturday 23 March (2:30pm)
Salford Red Devils 8-18 Leigh Leopards
Leopards Reserves made it two wins out of two as they earned the spoils from a tightly fought game at the Community Field.
Stu Littler’s side overcame an indifferent start, conceding two early tries, to produce a hard-working display in difficult conditions with Tom Nisbet scoring two tries.
Littler was forced to make several changes from the side that began their season with an impressive win over Leeds Rhinos.
Hooker Tommy Porter, one of the standouts against the Rhinos, was ruled out with a broken hand and Louis Brogan pulled out on the morning of the game through illness.
Salford capitalised on the Leopards’ hesitant start, with two unconverted tries inside the opening 14 minutes.
Gradually the Leopards, playing against a strong wind in the first half, built some momentum and Nisbet’s first try, scored out wide, was followed in quick succession by a second from Callum Lowe who cut inside to score under the posts, Lewis Fairhurst converting.
With the home side down to 12 men following a sin bin Jack Darbyshire capitalised on an overload down the left-hand side to open the second half scoring.
Nisbet cut inside to finish strongly for his second try which wrapped up a satisfactory afternoon.
Leopards’ defence was resolute after conceding those early scores and the team battled to the end to ensure Salford did not make a late comeback.
Wigan Warriors are next in line for the Leopards Reserves.
The eagerly awaited Reserves Battle of the Borough is at Leigh Miners Rangers Academy on Manchester Road on Saturday 6th April with a 2pm kick-off.
Leopards Reserves
Lewis Fairhurst; Alfie Whittle, Tom Nisbet, Jack Darbyshire, Luke Foster; TJ Boyd, Matthew Horrocks; Kavan Rothwell, Callum Lowe, Lewis Baxter, Callum Disley, Bailey Pemberton, Luke Sutcliffe
Bench: Daniel Tabern, Sam Bardsley, Kai Barker, Ryan Lockett. 18th player: Reece Stanton
Tries: Nisbet (30, 57), Lowe (33), Darbyshire (52)
Goals: Fairhurst 1/ 4
Scoring sequence: 0-4, 0-8, 4-8, 10-8 (ht) 14-8, 18-8
Thanks to Jack Evans for the details
