Northern Women’s Championship grand final
Sunday 22 September 2024 (2pm)
Twist Lane, Leigh Miners Rangers
Leigh Leopards 46-6 Sheffield Eagles
Leopards continued their joyous season with arguably their best all-round performance so far, running in nine tries to see off the Eagles’ stern challenge in front of a large crowd at Twist Lane.
Captain Mairead Quinn lifted the trophy in front of her celebrating teammates as the Leopards supporters applauded the team’s great efforts.
The team then performed their victory song on the pitch to popular acclaim.
Two down, two to go for Kieron Purtill’s talented team.
After their 100percent Championship record gave them the league leaders accolade, the Leopards’ victory in this Northern Championship grand final earns them another grand final next Sunday.
They will take on Southern winners London Broncos in the Championship grand final at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, the home of Midlands Hurricanes.
The winners of that game will play Featherstone Rovers, bottom club in the 2024 Women’s Super League for the right to play in the elite league next year.
Victory celebrations were tempered with concern for star second row Keli Morris who was stretchered off the field midway through the first half.
Hospital check ups confirmed she had a clean break of both tibula and fibula. Typically, though, she returned to the ground later, still in her playing kit and wearing a specially adapted boot, to see her victorious team-mates.
Eagles, who finished runners-up in the regular season, had given Leopards their toughest games of the season and provided another searching test as the rain swept down from leaden skies.
Though Toryn Blackwood got Leopards off the mark with a smart finish in the corner Eagles came back strongly, with good go-forward from the pack.
It was no surprise when Hailey Swann capitalised on a spell of good ball to open Eagles’ account and Victoria Thomas’s conversion gave them the lead.
Grace Hill powered over by the posts with the first of Charlotte Melvin’s five goals restoring Leopards’ lead.
When the hugely popular Keli Morris was carried from the field, her misfortune seemed to strengthen the Leopards’ resolve.
Becky Greenfield was yellow carded for a high challenge but Leopards’ defensive tenacity made light of her temporary absence.
Clare Collins came off the bench and showed fantastic footwork to score a fine individual try and Leopards turned around with a hard-earned 16-6 advantage.
It might have been even closer had not Eagles had a try disallowed on the stroke of half-time when Brooke Price’s celebrations proved premature as referee Reece Schofield had spotted a forward pass in the build-up.
Leopards went on to dominate the second half, scoring six tries without reply.
Their superior bench strength and fine interplay from the backs showed what a talented team they have become.
Leah Morris produced another mature performance at halfback alongside Rhianna Burke and Hattie Dogus joined the attacking line to good effect, as she has all season.
Livewire hooker Kate Howard darted over from dummy half for her 19th try of the season to inspire her team.
Greenfield finished smartly in the left corner before Collins burst over for her second try which underlined her value to the team.
Greenfield followed suit with her second try and the game had now run away from the gallant Eagles.
Storm Cobain crowned a typically industrious performance with a great effort for her 17th try of the season.
Fittingly, Dogus who was awarded the Player of the Match honour, completed the afternoon’s action with her 24th try of an outstanding campaign.
Leopards
Hattie Dogus; 2 Toryn Blackwood, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 22 Mollie Young, 32 Becky Greenfield; 6 Rhianna Burke, 7 Leah Morris; 8 Keira McCosh, 9 Kate Howard, 10 Mairead Quinn (capt), 11 Keli Morris, 16 Storm Cobain, 18 Grace Hill
Bench:
34 Lucy Johnson, 20 Eleanor Dainty, 13 Clare Collins, 17 Clare Mullaney
Tries:
Blackwood (5), Hill (18), Collins (29, 55), Howard (46), Greenfield (52, 59), Cobain (75), Dogus (80)
Goals:
Melvin 5/ 9
Sin bin:
Greenfield (23)
Eagles
1 Sian Judd; 2 Chevelle Clarke, 3 Georgia Taylor, 4 Victoria Thomas, 5 Brooke Price; 16 Hailey Swann, 7 Mahault Pommier; 10 T’leesha Frederick-Maynard, 9 Agnes Wood, 11 Simone Saunders, 15 Danie Tierney, 12 Maddison Rainey, 13 Phoebe Evans
Bench:
8 Capucine Auger, 21 Holly Milton
Try:
Swann (12)
Goals:
Thomas 1/ 1
Referee: Reece Schofield; Touch judges: Cameron Breheny & Darren Pye
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 4-6, 10-6, 16-6 (ht) 22-6, 26-6, 32-6, 36-6, 42-6, 46-6
Penalty count: 5-5
GLDO: 0-0
Player of the Match: Hattie Dogus
