Betfred Women’s Super League Round 9
Sunday 27 July 2025
Northern Competitions Stadium (2pm)
Barrow Raiders 16-10 Leigh Leopards
Leopards lost a glorious opportunity of claiming their first away win in Super League as their second half fade out saw them go down in a tightly fought encounter at the Northern Competitions Stadium.
Leopards recovered from a nightmare start to take a deserved 10-6 at half-time but the Raiders dominated the second half to claim a deserved victory.
With five games of their inaugural Super League remaining, four at home, Kieron Purtill’s team now has two weekends off before returning to face Wigan Warriors at the Leopards Den on Sunday, 17 August (1pm).
They will have to learn important lessons from this game in Cumbria, that errors are punished at this level and you must take opportunities when they come.
Leopards’ start was poor; as the Raiders regained possession from the kick-off, earned a penalty and within two minutes their outstanding loose forward Nicole Stewart scored a converted try from close range.
Gradually Leopards fought their way back into the contest and enjoyed a purple patch of two tries in a nine-minute spell to take a four-point lead into the break.
Mackenzie Taylor forced her way over on the right after a good passing move across the line, fullback Hattie Dogus joining the attacking line to provide the assist.
Then after Dogus had a try disallowed for being marginally offside as she chased Amy Taylor’s kick, Leah Morris came up with the second try that Charlotte Melvin converted.
Despite a 9-3 penalty count against them, Leopards had enough possession to consolidate their hard-earned lead but Raiders regrouped well to dominate field position in the second half with the benefit of a strong breeze at their backs.
The powerful Stewart forced her way over for her second try after Raiders forced a goal line drop out and converted her own try to complete a personal 12-point haul.
Raiders went further ahead when Vanessa Taylor scored in the corner to capitalise on a Leopards error. After the visitors failed to deal with Leah Clough’s kick and Temple took full advantage, cleverly chipping over the defensive and regathering to score.
With a quarter of the game remaining there was plenty of time for Leopards to mount a comeback but they rarely got near the Raiders line as the home team avenged their 42-10 defeat at the Leopards Den earlier in the season.
Leopards are now in seventh position in the eight-team Super League with four points, two behind Barrow and Huddersfield. Bottom club Warrington Wolves, still without a win, failed to fulfil their Round 9 game at St Helens and with a far inferior points difference must realistically win three of their last five games to have a chance of overhauling Leopards.
Raiders
Chloe Capstick; Shannon Parker, Emily Stirzaker, Claire Hutchinson, Hannah Thompson; Kerrie-Ann Smith, Beth Pattinson; Maddie Neale, Beth Lindsay, Jodie Morley, Leah Clough, Vanessa Temple, Nicole Stewart
Bench:
Leah Cottier, Jodie Crawford, Fran Harley, Lucy Dickinson. 18th player: Becca Hartley
Tries:
Stewart (2, 53), Temple (57)
Goals:
Stewart 2/ 3
Leopards
Hattie Dogus; Toryn Blackwood, Mackenzie Taylor, Rhianna Burke, Becky Greenfield; Amy Taylor, Leah Morris; Eleanor Dainty, Kate Howard, Lucy Johnson, Storm Cobain, Charlotte Melvin, Abby Latchford
Bench:
Alice Fisher, Keli Morris, Hannah Roberts, Claire Mullaney. 18th player: Abi Gordon
Tries:
M Taylor (27), L Morris (36)
Goals:
Melvin 1/ 2
Scoring sequence:
6-0, 6-4, 6-10 (ht) 12-10, 16-10
Referee:
L Seal
Touch judges:
J Hughes & R Nevinson
Penalty count: 9-3; GLDO: 1-1
