Leigh Leopards secured fifth place within the Betfred Tremendous League common season with an 18-12 victory over St Helens which booked their place within the play-offs; watch the Tremendous League play-offs and Grand Closing stay on Sky Sports activities
Final Up to date: 20/09/24 10:25pm
Josh Charnley’s milestone attempt helped Leigh Leopards safe their place within the Betfred Tremendous League play-offs as they beat St Helens 18-12 in a must-win conflict at Leigh Sports activities Village on ‘Frantic Friday’.
The video referee had a giant say within the first half, initially chalking off a attempt from Saints winger Tommy Makinson for an obstruction within the build-up after which awarding one to John Asiata after the Leigh ahead’s effort had initially been despatched up as ‘no attempt’ by the on-field official.
There was little question about Ricky Leutele’s attempt which helped Leigh right into a 12-0 lead at half-time, however his sin-binning for a excessive sort out on Jack Welsby after the break noticed the 10-time Tremendous League champions draw degree by means of transformed tries from Makinson and Morgan Knowles.
However Charnley’s 247th Tremendous League attempt, which put him joint-second on the all-time record with Danny McGuire, with 12 minutes to go and Matt Moylan’s penalty aim proved sufficient to safe fifth place regardless of a late surge from the guests.
Story of the sport
Saints suffered a blow earlier than kick-off when hooker Moses Mbye pulled up with a calf damage within the warm-up, forcing coach Paul Wellens to draft in Jake Burns, however they initially began effectively and thought they’d claimed an early lead when Makinson crashed over within the nook, just for play to be pulled again for obstruction.
Leigh additionally threatened however hooker Edwin Ipape was penalised for a knock-on trying to attain from shut vary. The Papua New Guinea worldwide was removed from pleased with that call, claiming a Saints participant had interfered, however Leigh did profit from a detailed name to take the lead on 21 minutes.
Welsby was dominated to have brushed the touchline trying to assemble a Gareth O’Brien kick and the hosts took full benefit as Asiata, who’s departing to hitch Hull FC on the finish of this season, bounced out of a sort out to stretch out and contact down.
Saints’ hopes of a fast response had been snuffed out as Darnell McIntosh intercepted from Mark Percival however the Leigh winger spurned a gilt-edged likelihood when he later dropped a cross.
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Ricky Leutele completed off a superb attempt for Leigh Leopards to increase their lead over St Helens
The Leopards stored up the strain and did declare a second attempt two minutes earlier than the interval when full-back Moylan despatched Leutele over on the left.
Leigh ought to have had one other quickly after the break when Charnley brilliantly collected a cross one-handed and burst away however Moylan couldn’t take his return ball.
Saints had been supplied a manner again into the sport when Leutele was sin-binned following a problem on Welsby and made it depend with two tries in fast succession.
Makinson claimed the primary with an excellent diving end within the nook and Knowles adopted him over after a bouncing Lewis Dodd kick was knocked again.
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Josh Charnley scored a vital attempt for Leigh to go degree with Danny McGuire on the all-time Tremendous League try-scorers record with 247
With Jon Bennison changing each, the scores had been again degree however Leigh recovered their composure after Leutele’s return and this time there was no mistake as Charnley hit a Moylan cross at pace.
Moylan missed the conversion however landed his third aim of the night time from a penalty quickly after to finish the job.
What they mentioned
Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam:
“It is hard work, isn’t it? That was play-off intensity and atmosphere – it was an unbelievable atmosphere.
“I’m simply happy with the workforce. We have now been below the pump for the final 13 video games.
“We are in the six so we are very grateful. It is going to have to be the same intensity next week so we have to rise again.”
St Helens head coach Paul Wellens:
“Disappointed to come out on the wrong side of the result.
“I believed we had been unlucky for the disallowed attempt within the first half. In massive video games like this some calls go your manner, some do not. You need to settle for that.
“In the last three or four weeks we keep taking steps in the right direction, we did that again tonight.
“It will be one other powerful problem subsequent week, however going again a couple of weeks we did not suppose we might be there.”
What’s next?
Leigh Leopards travel to Salford Red Devils in next Friday’s elimination play-off after securing a fifth-placed finish during the Super League regular season, live on Sky Sports+ (8pm kick-off).
Unless Catalans Dragons beat Hull FC by the unlikely margin of 183 points on Saturday, St Helens will aim to become the first team to win the Grand Final after finishing sixth in the table and must first overcome third-placed Warrington Wolves away in their elimination play-off match next Saturday, live on Sky Sports+ (5.30pm kick-off).
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