WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT | Sheffield Eagles | Round 3

April 14, 2024

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT | Sheffield Eagles | Round 3

Leigh Leopards 42-14 Sheffield Eagles

Women’s Championship North, Twist Lane, Sunday 14 April 2024 (2:30 pm)

Mollie Young spearheaded Leopards’ successful return to Championship action with a fine hat-trick in her side’s nine-try victory over Eagles at Twist Lane.

Leopards did it the hard way, fighting back from an early 10-0 deficit before going on to dominate the second half to make it three league wins out of three.

Leopards’ strike rate out wide was crucial in what was an increasingly fluent display with the three-quarter line all scoring tries, including a debut score by winger Megan Grace-Holding.

Eagles began brightly as prop Capucine Auger and loose forward Isabelle Brennan each scored tries in an impressive opening.

The game turned Leopards’ way when Charlotte Melvin’s second re-start forced a goal line drop-out and the Eagles chased shadows as the home side got their attacking game into gear.

Leopards ran in three tries in an inspired seven-minute spell as they recovered from their sluggish opening.

Leah Morris and Dogus created the opening for Young’s first try on the left before Dogus popped up on the right to usher Toryn Blackwood over in the corner. Then Leah Morris’s kick was judged superbly, and Melvin just beat her teammate Storm Cobain to touch down.

But Eagles were far from finished and when Chevelle Clarke burst over in the right corner just after the half-hour the scores were tied at 14-14.

It took a second try from Young to give Leopards a hard-earned interval lead after her side successfully kept the ball alive on the last tackle.

The second half was a different story as Leopards dominated with Eagles rarely making inroads.

Cobain’s long run from deep set up winger Grace-Holding for a try to mark her first outing on a Leopards jersey before Young completed her hat-trick as her power and eye for an opening saw her cross on the left.

Kate Howard’s individual try opened daylight and Leopards finished strongly with Cobain and Dogus putting the seal on the afternoon’s work with further scores.

Leopards return to Twist Lane next Sunday with Dewsbury Moor the visitors for a round four Championship North game (2pm).

Leopards

1 Hattie Dogus; 2 Toryn Blackwood, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 22 Mollie Young, 27 Megan Grace-Holding; 6 Rhianna Burke, 7 Leah Morris; 10 Mairead Quinn (capt), 9 Kate Howard, 20 Eleanor Dainty, 11 Keli Morris, 16 Storm Cobain, 18 Grace Hill.

Bench:

17 Claire Collins, 15 Sam Brazier, 24 Abi Gordon, 17 Claire Mullaney. 18th player: 30 Georgia Mole

Tries: Young (16, 37, 50), Blackwood (20), Melvin (23), Grace-Holding (45), Howard (65), Cobain (68), Dogus (78)

Goals: Melvin 3/ 9

Eagles

1 Sian Judd; 2 Chevelle Clarke, 3 Phoebe Evans, 4 Claire Fisher, 5 Victoria Thomas; 6 Hailey Swann, 7 Maria Troullouri; 8 Capucine Auger, 9 Agnes Wood, 15 T’leesha Frederick-Maynard, 12 Lauren Exley, 11 Simone Saunders, 13 Isabelle Brennan.

Bench: 14 Bethany Arnold, 21 Jessica Sayles, 22 Sophie Anderton, 16 Leilah Mills

Tries: Auger (5), Brennan (14), Clarke (32)

Goals: Thomas 1/ 3

Scoring sequence: 0-6, 0-10, 4-10, 8-10, 14-10, 14-14, 18-14 (ht) 22-14, 26-14, 32-14, 38-14, 42-14

Referee: Liam Breheny; Penalty count: 1-3



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