LEEDS RHINOS 16 LEIGH LEOPARDS 20
PHIL CAPLAN, AMT Headingley, Thursday

LEIGH threw their own cat among the play-off pigeons and put themselves in prime position for a top-four finish, ending Leeds’ winning home run in process.

The Leopards were superb, scoring four tries to two, and produced an immense defensive effort throughout, not least playing for ten minutes with twelve men.

In a thrilling clash, Rhinos looked like they’d levelled when Ryan Hall, back in place of Alfie Edgell, went over in the 77th minute but Umyla Hanley – who had earlier scored a sensational try – got across to thwart him to sum up the visitors’ efforts.

Leeds and Hall had made the perfect start, with Josh Charnley spilling a Lachlan Miller kick on the last and Jake Connor producing an outrageous overhead pass to put Hall in the corner, where Connor delivered the touchline conversion.

In a frantic opening, Connor’s next long pass only found touch on halfway, after which Lachlan Lam, Adam Cook and David Armstrong sent Hanley into a hole and he fed Charnley who went over in the corner, with Cook goaling to level.

Leigh survived a couple more Leeds breaks as the excitement continued, then Joe Ofahengaue went high on Miller in front of the posts and Connor took the two points on offer.

After the water break, Leigh gained the first set restart, from which Cook, Lam and Andy Badrock sent Innes Senior to the corner.

Armstong broke clear on the next set but his pass on halfway to Edwin Ipape was forward and the Rhinos made him pay, Miller and Ash Handley combining for Miller to send in Brodie Croft at the posts with a fine pass.

Jack Bird came off for an HIA which he went on to fail and his replacement, Zak Lloyd, pulled off a superb try-saver on Charnley on the right. But Leigh switched the ball left and Lam sent in Senior for his second.

Cook missed his second shot at goal to leave it level, 14-14 at the break.

Early in the second period, Leeds received a penalty for a shepherd at the end of a set, which Connor slotted over from wide out to retake the lead.

Newman was held up before the Leopards struck with the mesmeric move which proved the winner. Lam, Cook and Armstrong all combined, the latter sending a great pass for Hanley who served and collected the ball back from Charnley for a sparkling try.

As the sides stopped for another water break a tackle by Badrock on Newman was reviewed and he was sinbinned.

But Leigh couldn’t be penetrated in the next ten minutes with Charnley keeping out Hall, Ofahengaue forcing Miller into an error, and the impressive Lloyd and Tom Holroyd both going close as the visitors heroically held.

Three minutes from time, it appeared their dam was breached on the last tackle. Connor sent up a high kick, Ash Handley knocked it back and Cameron Smith cleaned up to send Hall in at the corner, but his foot grazed touch and was ruled out by the video referee.

Still there was drama as Connor kicked a 40/20 to create one final chance, but Liam Horne snaffled his kick to the posts.

GAMESTAR: David Armstrong was a threat every time he touched the ball and marshalled the Leopards’ defensive line superbly.

GAMEBREAKER: Umyla Hanley’s tackle to prevent Ryan Hall going over in the corner with three minutes to go epitomised Leigh’s sensational scramble.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Umyla Hanley’s try was a brilliant sweeping move that involved six pairs of hands in glorious fashion.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts David Armstrong (Leigh)
2 pts Umyla Hanley (Leigh)
1 pt Brodie Croft (Leeds)

MATCHFACTS

RHINOS
1 Lachlan Miller
5 Ryan Hall
4 Ash Handley
33 Jack Bird
3 Harry Newman
6 Brodie Croft
7 Jake Connor
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Jarrod O’Connor
15 Cooper Jenkins
14 Chris Hankinson
11 Kallum Watkins
17 Cameron Smith
Subs
10 Tom Holroyd
20 Presley Cassell
28 Fergus McCormack (not used)
30 Zak Lloyd
18th man (not used)
26 Tom Nicholson-Watton
Also in 21-man squad
12 James McDonnell
22 Riley Lumb
24 Ned McCormack

Tries: Hall (2), Croft (26)
Goals: Connor 4/4

LEOPARDS
1 David Armstrong
19 Innes Senior
23 Andy Badrock
4 Umyla Hanley
5 Josh Charnley
6 Adam Cook
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Joe Ofahengaue
17 Liam Horne
13 Isaac Liu
22 Jack Hughes
12 Owen Trout
25 Louis Brogan
Subs (all used)
9 Edwin Ipape
10 Robbie Mulhern
15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke
16 Matt Davis
18th man (not used)
21 Gareth O’Brien
Also in 21-man squad
20 AJ Towse
24 Ben McNamara
28 Ryan Brown

Tries: Charnley (5), Senior (22, 37), Hanley (56)
Goals: Cook 2/4
Sin bin: Badrock (61) – dangerous tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 8-6, 8-10, 14-10, 14-14; 16-14, 16-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rhinos: Brodie Croft; Leopards: David Armstrong

Penalty count: 5-1
Half-time: 14-14
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 15,019