Women’s Northern Championship Round 1
Oulton Raidettes 6 Leigh Leopards 26
Leigh Leopards Women got their league programme underway with a five-try victory at Oulton.
Storm Cobain was one of five Leopards on debut and after she finished off a flowing move for the first try of the season after only 53 seconds, the visitors always looked in control. She added a second try just before half-time to confirm an eye-catching display in the second row.
Charlotte Melvin scored two tries and added three conversions with Rhianna Burke also on the scoresheet. The Raidettes’ right winger scored a superb long-range interception try but that was the only time the home side breached a tight Leopards’ defence.
Gabi Leigh and Freya Turner, who formed a new left-wing partnership, Sam Brazier and Abi Gordon were the other newcomers to the team, and all contributed well to the hard-earned win in difficult conditions on a heavy pitch.
Assistant coach Ryan Hannon took charge with head coach Kieron Purtill returning from Jamaica with the college team. He was pleased with the victory, telling Leopards TV: “We knew when we came here today it was the first step on the ladder towards Super League. The pitch was boggy, but we were very professional.
“All five new players went well for us. Storm was excellent, she brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the team. Charlotte is a very important player for us. She’s a quality player with high energy.
“I thought our defence was superb. They didn’t look like scoring other than that interception. Our aim was to strike early and get points on the board and then see the game out. Second half we stuck in there and we will get better.”
Charlotte Melvin, moved from the second row to centre after Ellise Derbyshire’s close season departure to Wigan, showed what an important player she will be for the Leopards this season. Her first converted try gave the Leopards an early 12-0 lead before the Raidettes hit back with that stunning interception try from their right winger who raced fully 80 metres which left the trailing defence in her wake.
But tries by Rhianna Burke and a second from Cobian sent the Leopards in at halftime with a commanding 22-6 advantage.
The second half was dominated territorially by the Leopards, but the home side continued to defend with admirable resolve. They showed enough skill and determination to suggest that they will be a force to be reckoned with over the season.
The Leopards’ work rate continued to be high and the defensive shackles they imposed meant their line was barely threatened.
Just two minutes remained when Melvin crashed over for her second try and sent the Leopards homeward bound with two points in the bag.
The Leopards entertain Salford Red Devils at Twist Lane next Sunday (2pm) in Round 2, a side they have already beaten in preseason.
Leopards’ captain Mairead Quinn said: “It was a case of getting back into it, keep building, sticking to our processes. We’ve changed the game plan slightly, so it was important we played that today. At points when we did, we were successful. But we made it hard in the second half so it’s a case of getting back to training and tightening up a few bits.
“All five new players are brilliant. They bring loads to the team and it’s important we gel even tighter this year as we are working towards our big goal. It was a brilliant interception try by Oulton, fair play to their player.
“I was really happy with some of the tries we scored. Second half was frustrating, but we made it hard for ourselves. We are going to have to adapt to conditions. We will work hard to get where we want to be.”
Leopards:
1 Hattie Dogus; 2 Toryn Blackwood, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 4 Gabi Leigh, 28 Freya Turner; 6 Rhianna Burke, 7 Leah Morris; 15 Sam Brazier, 9 Kate Howard, 10 Mairead Quinn (capt), 11 Keli Morris, 16 Storm Cobain, 13 Claire Collins.
Bench: 17 Claire Mullaney, 21 Kirsty Millington, 18 Grace Hill, 24 Abi Gordon.
Tries: Cobain (1, 38), Melvin (11, 78), Burke (32); Goals: Melvin 3/ 5.
Half-time: 6-22. Attendance: 180. Scores: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 18-6, 22-6 (ht) 26-6.
