Betfred Women’s Super League Round 11
Leopards Den
Sunday 24 August 2025 (1pm)
Leigh Leopards 10-40 Leeds Rhinos
Leopards gave one of their best displays of their inaugural Super League season as the final scoreline did scant justice to their efforts after an entertaining game at the Leopards Den.
Rhinos had the cutting edge through their Australian stand-off Mel Howard, a brilliant team player, who was the game’s stand-out performer, collecting a 16-point personal haul.
But Leopards had plenty of possession and good field position and could easily have had more tries as a reward for their enterprising attacking play and never-say-die attitude.
Mackenzie Taylor blasted over on the right and Kate Howard finished off Lucy Johnson’s brilliant offload in a massed tackle for the two Leopards tries.
On another day Rhianna Burke, Johnson, Alice Fisher, Storm Cobain and Leah Morris might have added to the score, all hauled down inches short or held over the Leeds goal line on their backs.
Leopards tackled with determination and organisation, their ranks stiffened by four players on debut, all recruited on loan.
Alyx Bridge, on loan from Saints, had a fine game in the second row and the Wigan Warriors and ex-Leigh Miners Rangers trio of Katie Palmer, Alisha Lawrence and Charlotte Meredith all made an impact.
Mollie Young also made a successful comeback from a broken arm and edged out the outstanding Johnson for the team’s Player of the Match award.
Rhinos started strongly in warm conditions, taking the initiative with tries by Tally Bryer and Lucy Murray before Taylor raised a big cheer with her deserved try from Charlotte Melvin’s assist.
Leopards had more than their share of possession but couldn’t pierce the Rhinos defence for the rest of the half and conceded two further tries to trail 22-4 at the break.
Rhinos’ fullback Ebony Stead scored a fine individual try from halfway after a brilliant kick return before Ruby Bruce wriggled over from dummy half.
Kate Howard set the crowd alight with a brilliant scooting finish from Johnson’s offload to haul Leopards back to within touching distance.
Rhinos closed the game with three further tries as Mel Howard combined with Bella Sykes to score the try her own efforts deserved. Murray grabbed her second before Sophie Nuttall completed the scoring, Howard adding six conversions in all.
But after some heavy defeats against members of the top four, of whom Rhinos are one, Leopards’ stirring display sets them up for the visit of Huddersfield Giants next Saturday (noon at Golborne) and the trip to Warrington Wolves the following week. Saints wind up the Leopards’ first season in the topflight on Sunday 14 September.
Leopards
Hattie Dogus; Abi Johnston, Mackenzie Taylor, Mollie Young, Freya Turner; Rhianna Burke, Leah Morris; Amy Fisher, Kate Howard, Lucy Johnson, Alyx Bridge, Charlotte Melvin, Storm Cobain
Bench:
Katie Palmer, Alisha Lawrence, Charlotte Meredith, Becky Greenfield. 18th player (not used) Hannah Roberts
Tries:
Taylor (26), Howard (47)
Goals:
Melvin 1/ 2
Rhinos
Ebony Stead; Tally Bryer, Sophie Nuttall, Evie Cousins, Liv Whitehead; Mel Howard, Ruby Walker; Ella Donnelly, Ruby Bruce, Kaiya Glynn, Shannon Brown, Lucy Murray, Bella Sykes
Bench:
Jenna Greening, Elle Frain, Grace Short, Frankie Blakey. 18th player (not used) Jess Sharp
Tries:
Bryer (8), Murray (12, 64), Stead (32), Bruce (37), Howard (53), Nuttall (80)
Goals:
Howard 6/ 7
Scoring sequence:
0-4, 0-10, 4-10, 4-16, 4-22 (ht) 10-22, 10-28, 10-34. 10-40
Referee: Tyler Topping-Higson; Touch judges: E Wright & A Marsh
Penalty count: 8-4
GLDO: 1-0
Leopards’ debutants:
Alyx Bridge (St Helens loan) (HN#52), Katie Palmer (Wigan Warriors loan) (HN#53), Alisha Lawrence (Wigan Warriors loan) (HN#54), Charlotte Meredith (Wigan Warriors loan) (HN#55)
Betfred Super League Round 23
Friday 22 August 2025
Leopards Den (8pm)
Leigh Leopards 38-6 Salford Red Devils
Leopards got back to winning ways against crisis torn Salford at the Leopards Den, emerging from a disjointed first half display to play with increasing fluency in the second.
Salford cobbled together 17 players, taking their seasonal squad numbers up to 69 and bringing in halfback Rowan Milnes on loan earlier in the day. They played with no little spirit and resolve, took the lead midway through the first half and trailed by only 12-6 midway up until the hour-mark.
Their supporters, massed in the east stand, kept up their backing throughout the game and deservedly gained recognition from both sets of players at the end.
Leopards’ side had 10 changes, some positional, from the defeat at Hull and Aaron Pene returned after a long absence with a back injury. Brad Dwyer, out of the team since Magic, came back in to earn the Player of the Match award, adding much needed energy and creativity from the bench.
Jack Darbyshire made his Super League debut for Salford, on loan from Leopards, and acquitted himself well alongside five other players on debut.
Former Leigh favourite Joe Mellor opened the scoring for the visitors, nipping over from dummy half, and rightly earning the Champagne Moment award from sponsors GJU Flooring.
Mellor later came into Premier Club and spoke eloquently and emotionally about the situation he’s faced his season, earning a standing ovation.
Tesi Niu scuttled the close-range defence for the equalising try and just before half-time Ethan O’Neill leapt high to take Lachlan Lam’s pinpoint kick and give his side a hard-earned lead.
There it stayed until Charnley’s first try following a blindside move just before the hour-mark.
Matt Davis then supported Lam’s break to dive over before intense Leopards’ pressure created the opportunity for Bailey Hodgson.
Charnley powered over for his second try and AJ Towse completed the scoring with his second touch after a sweeping move.
Leopards
Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Darnell McIntosh, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Ben McNamara, Lachlan Lam; Jack Hughes, Matt Davis, Robbie Mulhern, Andrew Badrock, Ethan O’Neill, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Aaron Pene, AJ Towse, Alec Tuitavake, Brad Dwyer. 18th player (not used) Gareth O’Brien
Tries:
Niu (23), O’Neill (39), Charnley (59, 72), Davis (63), Hodgson (68), Towse (76)
Goals:
McNamara 5/ 7
Red Devils
Declan Murphy; Nathan Connell, Louix Gorman, Jack Darbyshire, Neil Tchamambe; Rowan Milnes, Joe Mellor; Loghan Lewis, Finley Yates, Justin Sangare, Leon Ruan, Dan Russell, Harvey Wilson
Bench:
Charlie Glover, Tiaki Chan, Toby Warren, Emmanuel Waine. 18th player (not used) Samuel Hill
Try:
Mellor (19)
Goal:
Milnes 1/ 1
Scoring sequence:
0-6, 6-6, 12-6 (ht) 18-6, 24-6, 28-6, 34-6, 38-6
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Touch judges: S Mikalauskas & G Jones; Reserve referee: A Belafonte
M Com: Peter Taberner; Video referee: Aaron Moore; Timekeeper: Keith Leyland
Penalty count: 5-3
GLDO: 0-3
Attendance: 7,826
Main Match Sponsor:
Bury Financial Services Ltd
Player of the Match sponsor:
Bridge & Geoff (awarded to Brad Dwyer)
Associate Match sponsor:
Retirement Professionals
Match Ball sponsor:
End Systems
Champagne Moment sponsor:
GJU Flooring (awarded to joe Mellor for the opening try)
Official Kit & Retail partner:
Reebok