Leigh Leopards attempt a tackle on the Leeds Rhinos’ Caitlin Casey. Photo credit: Leeds Rhinos twitter
Leeds Rhinos ruled victorious over the travelling side Leigh Leopards 54-0 at Headingley in the Women’s Challenge Cup, advancing into the semi finals. Braces from debutant and academy graduate Ruby Enright and Tara Moxon saw the side progress into the next stage of the competition.
Leeds Rhinos 54 – 0 Leigh Leopards
(HT 32 – 0) Headingley Stadium
Leeds tries: 10’ Bennett, 13’ 73’ Enright, 16’ 57’ Northrop, 26’ Dainton, 31’ 49’ Moxon, 35’ Hulme, 61’ Butcher, 68’ Carter | Goals: Hayward 5/11
Leeds Rhinos XIII: Sophie Nuttall, Tara Moxon, Eloise Hayward, Hanna Butcher, Ruby Enright, Caitlin Casey, Sam Hulme, Dannielle Anderson, Keara Bennett, Izzy Northrop, Elle Frain, Mayzi Carter, Bethan Dainton. Interchanges: Jasmine Earnshaw-Cudjoe, Kaiya Glynn, Beth Lockwood, Tasha Gaines.
Leigh Leopards: Toryn Blackwood, Mackenzie Taylor, Elise Gater, Rhianna Burke, Emma Knowles, VIcky Rosevere, Kate Howard, Mairead Quinn, Keli Morris, Ellise Derbyshire, Rebecca Owen, Grace Hill, Olivia Boyham, Leah Morris, Kirsty Millington, Jessica Farnell, Kim Seddon, Hatice Dogus.
Prior to the game, England Knights’ and Leeds Rhinos’ Jasmine Earnshaw-Cudjoe reflected on Leeds’ recent form after losing to both York Valkyrie and St Helens in the WSL:
“We needed time off to reset and refocus. We reviewed where we went wrong and how we need to fix up, we’ve had some hard sessions to rectify that. We focused on where we’ve gone wrong in the game and what we need to focus on. It’s about having that team mentality and working together as a team on the pitch. We’ve had players going to the NRLW and we’ve handled it very well. [The] new players have come in and made a massive difference.”
Coach Lois Forsell was full of praise for one of the new players, Ruby Enright, ahead of her debut:
“We’re proud of Ruby [Enright], she’s had a real tough time with injury – she’s had an ACL injury. She’s been really good since she got back to playing games at the Academy. She’s been a leader within that team. She’s definitely a talented athlete and a talented rugby player. We just know that she needs to be in this environment to push herself to be the very best.”
Lois Forsell’s side saw two replacements, Amy Hardcastle and Sophie Robinson out for Sam Hulme and debutant Ruby Enright after recovering from injury and impressing the coach with her performances in the Academy.
Leeds were aggressive in the first few minutes at Headingley, forcing errors from Leigh early on. Keara Bennett flew to the tryline from dummy half to open the Leeds account. It wouldn’t be too much longer for one to become two with Ruby Enright on debut in the right corner for the Rhinos in the thirteenth minute. Eloise Hayward was successful with both conversions leaving Leeds 12-0 in the first 15.
Two more tries followed for the rapid Rhinos side. Izzy Northrop broke through the Leopards’ line for a 40 metre run for a solo try. Loose forward Beth Dainton was assisted by Tara Moxon to cross for an easy try for the Wales and British Army international. Hayward had two more conversions to her name.
Another try for the Rhinos came from halfback Sam Hulme just before the break. Hulme in a solo effort to the line – Hayward unable to convert either tries – assisting the Rhinos a 32-0 lead over the Leopards.
Just as the second half began, winger Moxon picked up a try of her own this time round. Caitlin Casey handed her the ball from a long pass for the Papua New Guinea international to leap acrobatically into the corner for a try – Hayward unable to convert from the line. Moxon had looked to be on for the hat-trick, but her final try was disallowed as she was deemed to be in touch.
Northrop made up for the cancelled out try with her second in the game. Breaking through the Leigh defence once more, Northrop ran from the halfway line to put the ball under the sticks. Hayward with an easy target and 2 points to the tally.
Rhinos skipper Hanna Butcher was at the end of a short pass from Tasha Gaines on the right edge for the 9th try of the game. Mayzi Carter was in on the tries at the left hand side for her first try for the Rhinos senior side, pulling up the half century for Leeds in doing so. Hayward was unsuccessful on both conversion attempts.
The final try came in the 73rd, Enright making a mark on debut with her second try of the game. Scoring on the right edge, Enright saw the final points of the game as kicker Hayward was unable to reach the target. A dominant display from the Rhinos at home left the Leigh Leopards unable to reply. The Rhinos progress through to the Semi Finals of the Women’s Challenge Cup.
Written by Ellie Indie
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