York Knights 6-18 Leigh Leopards: Match Report

2 days ago
3 min read

Despite a battling performance, York Knights were beaten 18-6 by Leigh Leopards at the LNER Community Stadium in Betfred Super League.

In what was a generally tight affair, the Knights couldn’t always make the most of their chances, while Leigh were able to execute with clinical speed near the York line.

However, York’s defence looked strong and denied the Leopards what looked like good opportunities to extend their lead on numerous occasions.

It took two second half tries for Leigh to make sure of the win, after just two points separated the teams at half time.

It was a dominant start to the game by York, having the better of the territory, carrying well and restricting Leigh with their defence. Eight minutes were gone before Leigh had their first chance in the York 20 metre zone after a penalty, but a dropped ball snuffed it out.

It was a York error that led to the first try. Scott Galeano couldn’t take a high bomb on the last of the Leigh set, and the Leopards regained possession. They shipped it wide to Gareth O’Brien who saw a gap to score, and Cook converted.

With Leigh getting on a roll, they moved up field again. Lachlan Lam appeared to have reached an Edwin Ipape kick through behind the line, only for his effort to be ruled out by the video referee.

On the back of that, York went up the other end of the field and after back to back sets, Xavier Va’a used his size to crash in and Harrison converted to level the scores.

When Va’a was sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge, Cook edged Leigh ahead with a penalty and the Knights were left to see almost the rest of the half out with 12 men, but the score still didn’t change.

The second half settled into the arm wrestle like most of the first had been. Both sides had breaks, but neither could break down the defences.

It was fifteen minutes in before the first real chance came, with former York player, AJ Towse diving for the corner, only to lose possession before grounding the ball.

Leigh eventually scored on the other edge, when fast hands got Josh Charnley in space to touch down by the corner flag, too far out for Cook to convert.

York’s defence was holding after some stern tests but a 40/20 from Leigh set them up again, and a sharp ball to Jacob Alick-Wiencke allowed him to storm in from close range for a converted try.

A short kick off gave York the ball back in the Leigh half, and as Paul Vaughan drove hard towards the line, it was Leigh’s turn to work hard and hold him up, just as it looked like the Knights had hit straight back.

When Leigh moved the ball wide quickly, York were on the back foot. As Lam came round to join the line at pace on the right, he was brought down just short of the line.

York kept battling in attack but couldn’t find a way through, and Leigh managed the game out to secure the points.

York: Nofoaluma, Harrison. Buchanan, Wood, Galeano, Hingano, Hunter, Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Field, Dee, Littlewood

Subs: (all used) Balmforth, Griffin, Va’a, Cook

18th Player: Sangare

Tries: Va’a (23)

Goals: Harrison (1/1)

Sin Bin: Va’a (29)

Leigh: O’Brien, Towse, Senior, Hughes, Charnley, Cook, Lam, Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Trout, Liu

Subs: (all used) McNamara, Brogan, Alick-Wiencke, Horne

18th Player: Brown

Tries: O’Brien (15), Charnley (57), Alick-Wiencke (67)

Goals: Cook (3/4)