Reserves, Saturday 29 March 2025 (2pm)
Golborne Parkside ARLFC
Leigh Leopards 28-60 Wakefield Trinity
Leopards Reserves more than held their own in an entertaining and fluctuating first half at Golborne before a talented Trinity side ran away with the game in the second half.
Leopards twice held the lead inside the opening quarter with smart tries by Ben Tyrer and Jack Darbyshire. Darbyshire’s second try just before the half-time whistle and Ben McNamara’s third conversion sent the sides in level at the break.
Trinity had star performers in prop Ellis Lingard, hooker Cass Walker-Smith and the experienced Lachlan Walmsley. The visitors turned on the style in the second half, running in seven further tries, including three in a devastating seven-minute spell just after the resumption.
Walmsley showed his class with two smart finishes, one from halfway, and Lingard completed a hat-trick while the faultless Harry Ratcliffe completed a perfect day with the boot, kicking ten goals from as many attempts.
Leopards, who included first team squad members McNamara, Darbyshire and Aaron Pene in their 17, had half a dozen academy players in their ranks who will have gained much from the experience.
Barrow Raiders loan players Seth Woodend and Finley Dutton-Rosconie also showed up well. The latter scored a late try and young Logan Caroline-Hines also crossed in the corner.
Thans again to Golborne Parkside who staged the game superbly and made everyone welcome. Another good-sized crowd enjoyed an excellent game which showcased the quality of the Reserves competition.
Leopards
TJ Boyd; Leyton Hull, Seth Woodend, Jack Darbyshire, Logan Caroline-Hines; Ben McNamara, Ben Tyrer; Aaron Pene, Henry Parker, Ralph Wood, Callum Disley, Bailey Pemberton, Luke Sutcliffe
Bench:
Finley Dutton-Rosconie, Jayden Aaron, Joseph Bradburn, Ryan Lockett. 18th player: Layton Jupp
Tries:
Tyrer (2), Darbyshire (10, 40), Dutton-Rosconie (66), Caroline-Hines (70)
Goals:
McNamara 4/ 5
Trinity
Robbie Brook; James Evans, Harry Ratcliffe, Dom Sinfield, Lachlan Walmsley; Charlie Abraham, Rowan Stephenson; Ellis Lingard, Cass Walker-Smith, Alfie Briggs, Ewan Molyneux, Cain Staveley-Carr, Ashton Winks
Bench:
Isaac Pomfrey, Zach Clegg, Zach McSwinney, Jack Easton. 18th player: Finn Thompson
Tries:
Sinfield (6), Lingard (13, 74, 78), McSwinney (38), Brook (42), Molyneux (45), Walmsley (48, 63), Stephenson (53)
Goals:
Ratcliffe 10/ 10
Referee: S Houghton; Touch judges: L Dabbs & R Floyd
Penalty count: 5-2
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 12-12, 12-18, 18-18 (ht) 18=24, 18-30, 18-36, 18-42, 18-48, 24-48, 28-48, 28-54, 28-60
