Leigh Leopards ran in 5 tries as they opened their Tremendous League marketing campaign with a 26-14 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Leigh Sports activities Village.
Leeds, who completed simply behind their opponents final season in fourth, have been first on the board by way of a penalty from Chris Hankinson after Jarrod O’Connor had the ball knocked from his grasp.
However Innes Senior went over within the nook within the sixteenth minute – seizing on a intelligent one-handed go from Lachlan Lam – and it was 10-2 on the break after Edwin Ipape dived over for Leigh’s second attempt.
There have been errors from either side, and one other very pricey one from Leeds from the restart led to the third attempt, 10 seconds into the second half.
Riley Lumb spilled the ball from the kick-off, with Jack Hughes kicking by way of after which touching down.
Matt Davis’ subsequent attempt, which additionally owed a lot to Leeds errors, was initially disallowed however the video referee dominated he had grounded the ball after a prolonged overview.
Cooper Jenkins’ particular person effort within the 52nd minute gave Leeds their first attempt, whereas tempers have been fraying and a mass brawl ended with Harry Newman and Davis each despatched to the sin bin.
Leigh prolonged their result in 18 factors due to Lam’s 66th-minute attempt, with Brodie Croft’s late rating for Leeds scant comfort.
Catalans kick season off with Huddersfield win
Catalans started their Betfred Tremendous League marketing campaign with a win after beating Huddersfield 26-10 at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Tries from Ben Condon and Charlie Staines gave the hosts the benefit earlier than Sam Halsall replied on the stroke of half-time, however additional touchdowns from Tommy Makinson and Solomona Faataape secured an opening-round win, both aspect of George Flanagan crossing.
The Dragons opened the scoring within the seventeenth minute when Condon touched down and Toby Sexton added the extras earlier than they almost prolonged their benefit, however Faataape’s effort was dominated out by the video referee.
Sexton despatched the Dragons forward additional with a penalty and Staines burst by way of a niche to floor for his or her second attempt of the night, with Sexton changing.
Oliver Russell was proven a yellow card for Huddersfield for knowledgeable foul, however the guests managed to drag one again simply earlier than half-time when Halsall broke ahead to cross within the nook, however Flanagan was unable to transform.
With a 14-4 lead, Catalans virtually struck early within the second half by way of Sexton, however they quickly bagged their third attempt – 64 minutes in – when Faataape performed the ball into Makinson to floor, with Sexton changing.
Flanagan then replied simply minutes later for Giants after chasing down Tuimoala Lolohea’s kick and went on to attain beneath the posts earlier than changing his personal attempt.
Nonetheless, the French aspect wrapped up the sport with six minutes to play when Faataape burst down the left to floor and Sexton’s conversion was profitable.
Catalans Dragons coach Joel Tomkins: “We learnt some lessons from last week [against Batley], I’m not sure exactly what the completion was today but it was pretty good. Overall we’re really happy with some of the things we did tonight.
“I am actually proud, pleased with the hassle. I used to be actually pleased with the power and the passion we turned up with. Some actually good indicators for us shifting ahead by way of the remainder of the season. If we are able to maintain that stage of power we’ll be okay.”
After competing in rainy conditions, Huddersfield Giants coach Luke Robinson said: “I feel all credit score to Catalans, I feel they gave us a little bit of a lesson in the way you play wet-weather rugby.
“It was a little bit of an energy battle, particularly towards the end of the first-half, they scored four tries and we scored two so there wasn’t that much in it. But I think field position and territory were massive and that was due to us giving away seven penalties in that first half.”
