LEIGH LEOPARDS 34 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 8
Progress With Unity Stadium, Saturday

IN THE battle of Super League’s newest sides, Leigh came out on top of a tough battle with Featherstone.

The hosts, starting their second season at this level, crossed for six tries against newly-promoted Rovers, who grew into the contest as the minutes ticked by.

After a steady opening 13 minutes, Leigh finally found a way through when Kate Howard crossed, with Charlotte Melvin adding the conversion. 

Featherstone hit back almost instantly when Dani Waters’ nifty footwork got her through the Leopards defence, but she was unable to level the scores with the conversion.

Leigh then started to take control and quick-fire tries from Storm Cobain and Rhianna Burke, both converted by Melvin, saw them increase their lead.

When Beth Macmillan found a gap to cross for Featherstone she thought she had reduced the arrears to ten points going into the break, but a Nicole Barnett try on the stroke of half-time saw Leigh go in 24-8 up.

The second half was a much closer affair with the sides more evenly matched and it took until seven minutes from the end for any further score when Melvin went over, but then missed her first conversion of the afternoon.

Howard then got her second just as the hooter was about to sound to round off a positive afternoon for the Leopards.

LEOPARDS: 1 Hattie Dogus, 2 Toryn Blackwood, 3 Nicole Barnett, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 18 Isabelle Malyon, 6 Rhianna Burke, 7 Leah Morris, 8 Eleanor Dainty, 9 Kate Howard, 16 Lucy Johnson, 11 Emily Baggaley, 19 Libby Wall, 13 Storm Cobain. Subs (all used): 10 Mairead Quinn, 17 Macy McDermott, 20 Becky Webb, 21 Olivia Hill

Tries: Howard (13, 80), Cobain (21), Burke (25), Barnett (39), Melvin (73); Goals: Melvin 5/6

ROVERS: 1 Angel Bentley, 18 Ash Prescott, 19 Beth Macmillan, 4 Lydia Fawkes, 5 Shavon Craven, 12 Brogan Churm, 7 Liv Grace, 24 Sammy Watts, 6 Charley Blackburn, 10 Emillie Holmes, 21 Nat Carr, 16 Kacey Davies, 13 Dani Waters. Subs (all used): 8 Katie Evans, 15 Aaliyah Brewster, 22 Michaela Magonya, – Holly Waddington

Tries: Waters (17), Macmillan (37); Goals: Waters 0/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 12-4, 18-4, 18-8, 24-8; 28-8, 34-8

Half-time: 24-8