LEIGH LEOPARDS 46 CASTLEFORD TIGERS 6
DAVE PARKINSON, Leigh Sports Village, Thursday

LEIGH wrapped up a play-off spot for a third successive year with a comfortable eight-try victory over Castleford.

The Tigers have struggled for large parts of the 2025 campaign and simply couldn’t hold a rampant pack that made the jobs of Gareth O’Brien and particularly Lachlan Lam look easy.

The Leopards scored four tries in the first half, with Lam opening the defence for the first time in the third minute with a pass for Frankie Halton to charge over from. Gareth O’Brien goaled for a 6-0 lead.

Castleford responded gamely and young winger Elliot Wallis was hauled in touch after initially beating O’Brien with a run, but the Leopards were on the move again soon, scoring their second try after 13 minutes as O’Brien ran right and Lam’s pace took him wide of the last defender. O’Brien added the extras and Leigh led 12-0.

A leg injury to former Leigh favourite Tom Amone saw him leave the field to a rapturous round of applause from all sides of the Sports Village, but with Brad Singleton also being replaced in the first 20 minutes, and not appearing until much later, Leigh roared forward again.

With Robbie Mulhern outstanding in setting a platform, a four-pass play to the right saw Keanan Brand cross at the corner. O’Brien struck the conversion from the touchline.

The Tigers had their best spell in the 24th minute, forcing a drop out, however Leigh contested and Isaac Liu ended with possession for the hosts.

Lam was in brilliant form and he struck a 40/20 moments later to set up the field position for more Leigh points. The hosts set up good shape down the left with Josh Charnley diving in from Bailey Hodgson’s pass. O’Brien converted from out wide as the Leopards led 24-0 at half-time without really breaking a sweat.

The Tigers made a solid start to the new half with Alfie Lindsey forcing a drop-out but Jermiah Simbiken couldn’t take the ball. As it was, Frankie Halton was held up over the line as Leigh rallied to the other end, and on the next play Lam drifted across the face of the defence and handed on for Alec Tuitavake to score his first try for the club. O’Brien struck his fifth goal to stretch the advantage to 30-0.

Leigh had their sixth try four minutes later when a devilish kick from O’Brien saw the ball come off the knees of Wallis, then bounce off the legs of Tuitavake for Brad Dwyer to touch down and take the score to 36-0.

Tuitavake himself crashed over by the posts for his second score on the hour and O’Brien’s seventh goal made it 42-0.

Finally Castleford got themselves on the board after 68 minutes after Liam Horne’s break. Kicks from Chris Atkin and then Tex Hoy saw the fullback pull a score back as Daejarn Asi goaled.

But normal service was resumed when Lam unpicked the defence again on 74 minutes, putting Brand over for his second try with a well-timed pass. And although Bailey Hodgson missed the conversion, Leigh were able to celebrate once more making the top-six with a 46-6 thrashing of the Tigers.

GAMESTAR: Lachlan Lam was given the platform by his pack and boy did he repay them with a score, a number of try assists and a 40/20.

GAMEBREAKER: Leigh’s fourth try meant there was no way back for the Tigers.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: An athletic finish for Keanan Brand’s first score.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Lachlan Lam (Leigh)
2 pts Robbie Mulhern (Leigh)
1 pt Frankie Halton (Leigh)

MATCHFACTS
LEOPARDS
24 Bailey Hodgson
18 Keanan Brand
3 Tesi Niu
4 Umyla Hanley
5 Josh Charnley
6 Gareth O’Brien
7 Lachlan Lam
14 Aaron Pene
9 Edwin Ipape
10 Robbie Mulhern
11 Frankie Halton
21 Andy Badrock
13 Isaac Liu
Subs (all used)
12 Jack Hughes
15 Alec Tuitavake
16 Matt Davis
17 Brad Dwyer
18th man (not used)
22 Ben McNamara
Also in 21-man squad
2 Darnell McIntosh
20 Ethan O’Neill
29 AJ Towse

Tries: Halton (3), Lam (13), Brand (19, 74), Charnley (26), Tuitavake (52, 60), Dwyer (56)
Goals: O’Brien 7/7, Hodgson 0/1

TIGERS
1 Tex Hoy
46 Alfie Lindsey
12 Alex Mellor
22 Louis Senior
45 Elliot Wallis
6 Daejarn Asi
42 Chris Atkin
38 Brad Singleton
9 Liam Horne
41 Tom Amone
11 Jeremiah Simbiken
43 Joe Stimson
10 George Lawler
Subs (all used)
13 Joe Westerman
16 Cain Robb
19 Sam Hall
20 Muizz Mustapha
18th man (not used)
39 Hugo Salabio
Also in 21-man squad
15 George Griffin
25 Will Tate
26 George Hill

Tries: Hoy (68)
Goals: Asi 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0; 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 42-6, 46-6

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Leopards: Lachlan Lam; Tigers: Joe Westerman

Penalty count: 3-2
Half-time: 24-0
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 8,330