Leigh Leopards 36-28 Bradford Bulls – Leigh Leopards

Reserves, Saturday 15 June 2024

Leigh Miners Rangers Rugby League Academy, Sutton Park, Manchester Road, Leigh (2pm)

Leigh Leopards 36-28 Bradford Bulls

Leopards Reserves picked up their third win of the season in a 12-try thriller against the Bulls at Sutton Park.

Left-winger Alfie Whittle was one of the heroes for the Leopards with a classy hat-trick, while fellow winger Liam Copland secured victory with a smart last-minute finish on the opposite flank.

Valu Tane Bentley, Ben Tyrer and Tommy Porter were the Leopards’ other try scorers and skipper Lewis Fairhurst made four conversions.

A young Bulls side contributed fully to a fast-paced game, taking an early lead, regaining the lead shortly after the restart and staying in contention until the end.

With six points from their first seven games, Stu Littler’s side have made a very respectable start to the season after reforming the club in the reserves.

First-team squad members Keanan Brand, Louis Brogan and Lewis Baxter all contributed well to the team effort, along with Barrow Raiders koan pair Finn McMillan and Delaine Bedward Gittens.

But it was Whittle who stole the show. The son of former Leigh prop Dave Whittle, a real fan favorite in his Hilton Park days, he showed good finishing skills to score the first and third tries and a great turn of pace to fire over from 40 yards for second.

The Bulls scored first with an early converted try by prop Jamie Gill, but the Leopards were soon on level terms when the hard-working Bentley crashed over.

Briefly down to 12 men after Waldimar Matahwa was sin-binned for a late challenge, the Bulls paid the price when Whittle slotted over for his first. But the visitors were level when midfielder Finley Balback crossed for a converted try.

Whittle’s second try, that smart individual effort from distance separated the teams at the break.

The Bulls dominated the start of the second half with tries from fullback George Rayner and left winger William Oakes giving them a 22-16 lead.

But the Leopards were level when Whittle completed his hat-trick and Fairhurst converted from the touchline.

The Leopards now enjoyed a dominant spell behind a good pack lead and standoff Ben Tyrer capitalized with a smart angled 30m finish just after the hour mark.

Livewire hooker Tommy Porter completed a fine handling move to make the game seemingly safe for the Leopards.

But the Bulls pulled within four points when Rayner scored his second try and Balback kicked his fourth goal.

Copland showed his finishing skills with that clinical finish in the right corner following a scrum to complete a hard-earned but well-deserved victory for the Leopards after a game that was a credit to both teams.

Leopards Reserves are next in action on Saturday 29th June when they take on Hull FC Reserves at Hull RU (kick off midday).

Leopards

18 Lewis Fairhurst; 5 Liam Copland, 3 TJ Boyd, 4 Keanan Brand, 2 Alfie Whittle; 6 Ben Tyrer, 7 Matthew Horrocks; 8 Louis Brogan, 9 Tommy Porter, 10 Lewis Baxter, 11 Finn McMillan, 12 Ryan Wood, 13 Valu Tane Bentley

The bank:

22 Kieran Cooke, 20 Ryan Lockett, 17 Liam Sutcliffe, 27 Delaine Bedward Gittens. 18th man: 29 Sam Bardsley

Tries: Bentley (8), Whittle (27, 35, 57), Tyrer (63), Porter (71), Copland (80)

Goals: Fairhurst 4/ 7

bulls

1 George Rayner; 2 Connor Sayner, 4 Waldimar Matahwa, 5 Samuel Spencer, 20 William Oakes; 7 Finley Ballback, 6 Ethan Newboult; 10 Jamie Gill, 9 Lewis Owens, 8 Noah High, 11 Dominic Waites, 12 Jacob Bateman, 13 Elliot Peposhi

The bank:

22 Peter Scott, 14 Joseph Kellett, 23 Alfie Leake, 17 Frederick Butler. 18th man: 25 Joe Butler

Tries: Gill (3), Balback (31), Rayner (42, 77), Oakes (47)

Goals: Balback 4/ 5

Sin bin: Matahwa (25) late challenge

Scoring sequence: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 12-12, 16-12 (ht) 16-18, 16-22, 22-22, 26-22, 32-22, 32-28, 36 -28

Number of penalties: 9-10

Referee: Kristoff Young; Touch Judges: M Murphy & A Smith