Salford Red Devils 10 – Leigh Leopards 32
Leigh Leopards Women completed their pre-season preparations for the upcoming season in the Championship with a 32-10 victory over local rivals Salford Red Devils on the community grass pitch at Salford Community Stadium.
Assistant Coach Ryan Hannon took charge of the team in the absence of Head Coach Kieron Purtill who is currently in Jamaica with the Wigan & Leigh College team. The playing squad has seen several changes over the close season, so the game was an ideal opportunity for the new members of the squad to get some much-needed game time ahead of the first league game of the season next week at Oulton.
The Leopards led at half time 10-4, through tries from captain Mairead Quinn and Charlotte Melvin, with the latter adding a conversion.
The Leopards extended their advantage in the second half with tries from Gabi Leigh (2), Grace Hill and Freya Turner. Conversions in the second half came from Kirsty Millington (2) and Clare Collins.
Commenting after the match, Ryan Hannon said he was happy with the first run out of the season and was pleased that the team put many of the things that they have been working on in training into practice in the game, whilst acknowledging that there are still some areas to improve on in the coming weeks.
Leigh Leopards Women open their league programme in West Yorkshire next Sunday when they visit Oulton Raidettes with a 2pm kick-off. The game will be played at Oulton Raiders:
Details are as follows:
Oulton & Woodlesford Sports & Social club
Wakefield Rd
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS26 8EL
On Sunday 10 March Leigh Leopards Women play their first home league game when Salford Red Devils visit Twist Lane with a 2pm kick-off.
The Group Stages of the Betfred Challenge Cup then take centre stage with the Leopards competing with Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants and Hull KR in Group 4 with the top two placed sides progressing into the quarterfinals.
Leopards v Rhinos at Twist Lane is on 17 March with a noon kick-off.
Leopards v Giants is on Sunday 24 March with a 2pm kick-off.
Leopards then travel to Hull KR on Sunday 7 April with a 2pm kick-off.
Match day squad v Salford Red Devils:
1 | Hattie Dogus | Zeus Corp. Ltd |
2 | Toryn Blackwood | Chalk and Steel Gym |
4 | Gabi Leigh* | The Little Chippy Tyldesley Ltd |
6 | Rhianna Burke | McLaughlin’s Kitchens |
7 | Leah Morris | Tryfitness |
8 | Keira McCosh* | Struktura |
9 | Kate Howard | NM Civils |
10 | Mairead Quinn | JR’s Taxi |
11 | Keli Morris | Rye Motors |
12 | Charlotte Melvin | Sponsorship available |
13 | Claire Collins | BC Real Estate |
14 | Rachel Porter | Market Butcher |
15 | Sam Brazier* | Robben Rugby League Coaching |
16 | Storm Cobain* | Sponsorship available |
17 | Claire Mullaney* | DKCC Ltd Specialist Masonry Contractors |
18 | Grace Hill | Bold Miners |
20 | Eleanor Dainty* | CW Plastering |
21 | Kirsty Millington | Addition Accounting Services Ltd |
23 | Georgia Mole* | Sponsorship available |
24 | Abi Gordon* | Optimus Sports Management |
25 | Liv Boyham | Monster Lab |
26 | Libbi Leppert | Aintree Cooling Ltd |
27 | Megan Grace-Holding* | VC GROUP NW LTD |
28 | Freya Turner* | E.V.T Construction |
* Players new to the squad for 2024
Tries: M Quinn, G Leigh 2, C Melvin, F Turner, G Hill; Goals: C Melvin, K Millington 2, C Collins.
Many thanks to team manager Stephen Quinn for the information.
