Leeds Rhinos Women 54 Leigh Leopards Ladies 0

By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women secured their place in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals after a convincing 54-0 display over the Leigh Leopards that included a brace of tries from Tara Moxon and Ruby Enright.

Head coach Lois Forsell made two changes to the side that lost to St Helens last time out, with Amy Hardcastle and Sophie Robinson replaced by Sam Hulme and Enright, who made her first team debut after impressing in the academy.

The Rhinos started quick – forcing errors and charging down kicks. Two tries in the first fifteen minutes set a marker down for the rest of the game. Keara Bennett darted from dummy half for the first try, and Enright crossed for her first four-pointer in the first team on the right edge. Hayward was on target for the first two conversions, and Leeds led 12-0.

Izzy Northrop and Bethan Dainton were next on the scoresheet. Prop Northrop broke the Leigh defensive line and ran 40 metres, stepping the fullback to score. Hayward’s conversion was successful yet again. Loose forward Dainton provided excellent support for Tara Moxon, who broke down the touchline after the ball went left. Hayward made it four from four from the boot to make it 24-0.

After assisting Dainton, Moxon crossed for herself, thanks to a long pass from Caitlin Casey that was pinpoint. The winger made an acrobatic dive to score her fifth try of the season. Sam Hulme rounded off the first-half scoring. A textbook show-and-go from the halfback gave the Rhinos a 32-0 lead going into the break.

The first try of the second half came from Moxon, who again provided the Rhinos faithful with another diving finish. The winger almost scored her hat-trick mere minutes later but was deemed to be in touch.

Following a spectacular try in the first half, Northrop grabbed her second in an even better fashion. Breaking from the halfway line, she rounded the full back to score. Hayward was successful from in front of the sticks.

An hour gone and captain Hanna Butcher got in on the action. The skipper received a short pass from Tasha Gaines and the Rhinos were up 46-0. Hayward couldn’t convert. The Rhinos then crossed the half-century mark through Mayzi Carter, who also scored her first try for the Women’s first team. Hayward pulled the conversion wide.

The final try came seven minutes from time, and it was debutant Enright again, who crossed on the right edge to the delight of her family and friends in the South Stand. Hayward couldn’t convert but it needn’t matter as the Rhinos were through to the semi-finals 54-0.