WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT | Castleford Tigers | Round 5

April 29, 2024

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT | Castleford Tigers | Round 5

Women’s Championship North Round 5

Castleford Tigers 0-84 Leigh Leopards

Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Sunday 28 April 2024 (2:30pm)

The record books were re-written at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle as Leopards piled up a club record score and Charlotte Melvin set new goals and points records for the Women’s team.

Melvin amassed a personal haul of 28 points from a try and twelve goals and fullback Hattie Dogus scored her third hat-trick in the last four games as Leopards ruthlessly demolished the Tigers.

Just as pleasing for head coach Kieron Purtill was the team’s defensive resolve which restricted the home side to only glimpses of the try-line.

Purtill’s side have now won each of their first five Championship games and are playing with increasing attacking fluency and confidence.

Leopards were without their Ireland international trio of captain Mairead Quinn, Storm Cobain and Mollie Young who suffered disappointment on Saturday, losing their World Cup qualifier 28-10 against Wales in Cardiff.

Though the Leopards squad strength has grown this year, Purtill was down to his last 18 players due to a combination of injuries and those international calls.

Leopards now have a nines festival in a fortnight before Hull KR come to Twist Lane on Sunday 12 May. There’s then another three-week break before the Leopards visit Bradford Bulls on 2 June.

That enforced break could not have come at a worse time as the Leopards are in red hot form.

Once again, they started brilliantly, wingers Toryn Blackwood and Freya Turner both crossing within the first five minutes before Claire Mullaney blasted over on the last tackle.

Dogus cut through to score her first try on the left and Olivia Boyham and Melvin added further tries to send the visitors in with a commanding 30-0 lead.

If the first half had been one-sided, the second became a rout as Leopards ran in nine further tries, all converted by Melvin.

Tigers tried hard and never lacked commitment but are clearly going through a development phase that will take time to build up.

Sam Brazier got the first try of the second half and other pack members also got in on the scoring act. Claire Collins, after some great footwork, Mullaney for her second try, Eleanor Dainty and Keli Morris all bagged further tries.

Once the ball got out to the backs there was no stopping the Leopards with the jet-heeled Dogus completing her hat-trick with a second half brace, and Turner and Blackwood also getting their respective second tries of the afternoon.

Neither of the halfbacks, Leah Morris, and Rhianna Burke, got on the scoresheet because they were providers not finishers, as their midfield partnership continues to flourish.

Mevin kicked with great confidence and was successful with each of her last ten conversions. It was only right she should lead the team from the field after a great Leopards victory in West Yorkshire.

Tigers

1 Evie Simpson; 2 Millie Clarkson, 3 Stephanie Ellison, 4 Abbie Fox, 5 Jessica Tarbuck; 6 Bethany Pinto, 7 Abby Cromack; 8 Laura Stanworth, 9 Alisha Nix, 10 Poppy Adams, 11 Hope Throw, 12 Lisa Box, 13 Aimee-Leigh Wood.

Bench: 14 Molly Simpson, 15 Ellie Stodden, 16 Kay Lee Whetherstone (16 players named).

Leopards

1 Hattie Dogus; 2 Toryn Blackwood, 3 Charlotte Melvin, 4 Abi Gordon, 5 Freya Turner; 6 Rhianna Burke, 7 Leah Morris; 8 Claire Mullaney, 9 Kate Howard, 10 Eleanor Dainty, 11 Keli Morris, 12 Olivia Boyham, 13 Grace Hill.

Bench: 14 Claire Collins, 15 Sam Brazier, 16 Rachel Porter, 17 Georgia Mole

Tries: Blackwood (2, 67), Turner (5, 62), Mullaney (13, 55), Dogus (16, 45, 78), Boyham (25), Melvin (31), Brazier (42), Collins (48), Dainty (59), K Morris (75)

Goals: Melvin 12/ 15

Scoring sequence: 0-4, 0-10, 0-16, 0-20, 0-24, 0-30 (ht) 0-36, 0-42, 0-48, 0-54, 0-60, 0-66, 0-72, 0-78, 0-84

Referee: Paul Stratford; Penalty count: 5-5

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