Leigh Leopards Clinch Victory Over Salford Red Devils in Magic Weekend Showdown
Last Updated: 18/08/24 3:40pm
In a thrilling start to day two of the Magic Weekend at Elland Road, the Leigh Leopards secured a decisive 20-0 victory against the Salford Red Devils. Zak Hardaker was instrumental in the win, contributing 14 points to keep Leigh’s Betfred Super League play-off aspirations alive.
The Leopards drew first blood in the first half with tries from Edwin Ipape and Umyla Hanley, both successfully converted by Hardaker, giving them a 12-0 lead at halftime. Salford found themselves at a disadvantage with both Ethan Ryan and Brad Singleton sidelined due to sin-bin infractions.
The second half presented a tougher contest for Leigh, but Hardaker extended the lead with a penalty and a late try, assisted by Ipape, while Ricky Leutele added another converted score to seal the victory.
Highlights from the Magic Weekend clash between Leigh and Salford.
Leigh’s triumph brings them within three points of Salford in the Super League standings, as they pursue a top-six finish to secure a play-off spot for the second consecutive year, with only five matches remaining in the regular season.
Game Recap
After a promising start from the Red Devils, Leigh capitalized on a penalty against Ryan Brierley, which allowed Ipape to score the first try. Following this, Salford’s Ryan was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, hampering their defensive efforts. Hanley then broke through to score Leigh’s second try, further extending their lead.
Salford struggled to regain momentum, although they almost produced a try from Tim Lafai, which was ruled out for a knock-on. Hardaker took advantage of a late hit on Gareth O’Brien, adding another penalty before dramatically breaking the line to score an individual try himself.
Leutele rounded off the scoring with a late effort, ensuring a comprehensive win for Leigh against Salford, who are now looking to regroup.
Player Reactions
Zak Hardaker: “This is a crucial victory for us. We have a solid plan, and if we continue this trajectory, we can challenge any team in the league.”
Paul Rowley, head coach of Salford: “Today wasn’t our best performance, but we will learn from this and come back stronger.”
Upcoming Matches
The Leigh Leopards will face the London Broncos on Sunday, August 25, while the Salford Red Devils will host the Huddersfield Giants on August 24. Both matches are highly anticipated, with fans eager to see how each team responds after this weekend’s events.
Magic Weekend Coverage
Fans can catch all the Magic Weekend action broadcast live on available sports networks and streaming services, ensuring no match is missed throughout this exciting tournament.
