LEIGH LEOPARDS 24 CASTLEFORD TIGERS 18
DAVE PARKINSON, Progress With Unity Stadium, Saturday

LEIGH returned home for the first time in seven weeks and eventually claimed a hard-fought win over Castleford.

Isaac Liu and Lachlan Lam were the heartbeat while David Armstrong scored two tries as the Leopards got over the line to clinch a ninth win in eleven despite a much-improved Tigers effort.

Castleford, who recalled Jenson Windley and Jack Ashworth from loans, with the former replacing Tom Weaver in the halves, had some disruption before the kick-off, losing Krystian Mapapalangi in the warm-up with Mikaele Ravalawa going to right wing and Semi Valemei moving to centre.

Yet they almost caught the Leopards out in the third minute when Alex Mellor rolled forward and was hauled down close before Jason Qareqare saw an effort in the corner disallowed upon intervention of video referee Aaron Moore.

Within 60 seconds, Leigh were down the ground, with Lachlan Lam creating a break for Armstrong on the left before he kicked back inside and Lam ran on to touch down.

Castleford forced a drop out in the 13th minute but were then penalised on a helter-skelter last-tackle play for pushing Armstrong in the back. Leigh moved down the other end efficiently and when Lam and Gareth O’Brien linked, Jack Hughes followed up and Armstrong appeared at his shoulder to go under the posts.

Adam Cook kicked both goals to make it 12-0, after which the 20th-minute water break came at the right time for the visitors who were more together after the resumption.

The Tigers responded after 26 minutes when a clever grubber kick from Daejarn Asi was pounced on by Sam Hall after the substitute had earlier put the visitors in a great position with a startling break behind the ruck.

Joe Stimson kicked the conversion, his first goal for Castleford, who enjoyed a welter of possession during the closing stages of the first half.

When the Leopards conceded their seventh penalty of the half, the Tigers opted for a scrum. Spreading play quickly right, Ravalawa was able to finish in the corner and Asi goaled to level matters, 12-12, at half-time.

Just four minutes into the second half, Leigh scored their third try when Lam stabbed a grubber kick through and Umyla Hanley won the race. And with Cook converting from the right, it was 18-12.

Castleford lost both Louis Senior and and Hall to head-injury assessments and Leigh took advantage when gifted another set, Lam dummying before releasing Hughes who again found Armstrong for his second try before Cook added his fourth goal.

Good defence from Ashton Golding forced an error from Armstrong a minute later as he looked to get around the former Leeds and Huddersfield man and seal victory.

Both Senior and Hall returned in the final quarter as Castleford enjoyed some good position, but Leigh kept them at bay.

Senior was sinbinned as the game approached the final ten minutes for a high tackle, yet the next line break went the way of the Tigers, with only a diving tackle from Owen Trout hauling down Cain Robb after Valemei slipped the net. Great hands put Qareqare over on the left but upon review it was disallowed with an obstruction ruled on the inside.

Castleford continued to push and the excellent Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e slipped through the Leigh defence with five minutes remaining for Asi to convert and pull his side within six points, but Leigh were able to hold out at the end for the win.

GAMESTAR: Isaac Liu ran himself to a standstill and guided the Leopards in a 60-minute stint in which his running and tackling was inspirational.

GAMEBREAKER: David Armstrong’s second try after 54 minutes just gave Leigh enough of a lead to defend.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: David Armstrong’s first try on 16 minutes came after a superb attack.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Isaac Liu (Leigh)
2 pts Lachlan Lam (Leigh)
1 pt Daejarn Asi (Castleford)

MATCHFACTS

LEOPARDS
21 Gareth O’Brien
1 David Armstrong
19 Innes Senior
4 Umyla Hanley
5 Josh Charnley
6 Adam Cook
7 Lachlan Lam
16 Matt Davis
17 Liam Horne
25 Louis Brogan
22 Jack Hughes
12 Owen Trout
13 Isaac Liu
Subs (all used)
9 Edwin Ipape
24 Ben McNamara
28 Ryan Brown
31 Lazarus Vaalepu
No 18th man named
Also in 21-man squad
10 Robbie Mulhern
11 Frankie Halton
14 Aaron Pene
18 Bailey Hodgson

Tries: Lam (4), Armstrong (16, 54), Hanley (44)
Goals: Cook 4/4

TIGERS
35 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
22 Jason Qareqare
2 Semi Valemei
21 Louis Senior
5 Makaele Ravalawa
6 Daejarn Asi
24 Jenson Windley
10 George Lawler
31 Ashton Golding
13 Joe Stimson
11 Jordan Lane
12 Alex Mellor
39 Jack Brown
Subs (all used)
8 Renouf Atoni
15 Jack Ashworth
25 Sam Hall
27 Cain Robb
18th man (not used)
7 Tom Weaver
Also in 20-man squad
9 Liam Hood
23 Krystian Mapapalangi

Tries: Hall (26), Ravalawa (39), Laulu-Togaga’e (74)
Goals: Stimson 1/1, Asi 2/2
Sin bin: L Senior (68) – high tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-12; 18-12, 24-12, 24-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Leopards: Isaac Liu; Tigers: Daejarn Asi

Penalty count: 8-12
Half-time: 12-12
Referee: Liam Rush
Attendance: 8,567