Leigh Leopards Reserves 36-50 Wigan Warriors Reserves
Leigh Miners Rangers Academy, Sutton Park, Leigh, Saturday 6 April 2024 (2pm)
Leopards Reserves lost out in the Reserves Battle of the Borough at Sutton Park despite a stirring second half rally in an entertaining game that produced no less than 16 tries.
Warriors scored eight first half tries, including a hat-trick from winger Maddox Jeffery, to lead 40-18 at the interval.
But Leopards ‘won’ the second half as they finished the game strongly with tries by Lewis Fairhurst and Luke Forber in the dying minutes, while restricting the visitors to just two tries after the interval.
Fullback Fairhurst finished with a 16-point personal haul from his try and six goals from as many attempts.
Second row Ryan Lockett scored two tries in seven minutes for the Leopards late in the first half after halfback Ben Tyrer had opened the Leopards’ account. Ralph Wood also came off the bench to power his way over for a fine try midway through the second half.
Though Leopards lost for the first time in three games head coach Stuart Littler will take plenty of positives from his side’s spirit and determination and the enterprising football they displayed against an impressive Warriors team.
First team squad players Tom Nisbet, Jack Darbyshire, Lewis Baxter, and Jacob Gannon were all included in the Leopards’ 17.
Former Leigh halfback Ryan Hampshire, by far the most experienced player in the visitors’ ranks, created the opening try for Jeffery after only three minutes, Jack Farrimond kicking the first of his five goals.
But Leopards were back on level terms as Tyrer capitalised on a spell of pressure, showing good footwork to elude the Warriors’ defence.
Warriors then hit a purple patch, scoring six tries in an amazing 14-minute purple patch with Finley Beardsworth, Jacob Douglas, Reagan Sumner, and Kian McDermott all crossing before Yorkshire Academy winger Jeffrey completed his hat-trick with quickfire back-to-back touchdowns.
Leopards showed great resilience as Lockett twice breached the Warriors’ defence with Zack Eckersley replying for the visitors to set up that 40-18 scoreline at the break.
Warriors added tries to fullback Sumner, his second of the game and a superb solo effort from hooker Tom Ratchford, who displayed mesmerising footwork to cross for arguably the try of the game.
But Leopards finished strongly and those two late tries by Fairhurst and Forner were no less than their efforts deserved.
Leopards
Lewis Fairhurst; Alfie Whittle, Tom Nisbet. Jack Darbyshire, Luke Forber; Ben Tyrer, Matt Horrocks; Luke Sutcliffe, TJ Boyd, Lewis Baxter, Ryan Lockett, Bailey Pemberton, Jacob Gannon.
Bench: Callum Lowe, Sam Bardsley, Ralph Wood, Reece Stanton. 18th player: Callum Gittins
Tries: Tyrer, Lockett (2), Wood, Fairhurst, Forber
Goals: Fairhurst 6/ 6
Warriors
Reagan Sumner; Maddox Jeffery, Joshue Cartwright, Zach Eckersley, Jacon Douglas; Ryan Hampshire, Jack Farrimond; Ryan Brown, Tom Ratchford, Kian McDermott, Finley Beardsworth, Finlay Irwin, Taylor Kerr.
Bench: Harry Higham, Kalum Rathbone, Lukas Mason, Trent Kelly-Duffy. 18th player: Charlie Yeomans
Tries: Jeffery (3), Beardsworth, Douglas, Sumner (2), McDermott, Eckersley, Ratchford
Goals: Farrimond 5/ 10
Referee: T Jones; Touch-judges: C Murphy & S Price
