Match Report | Leeds Rhinos Women 46 Leigh Leopards Women 4

By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women have kicked off their 2025 season with a victory, after a strong 46-4 performance over Leigh Leopards AMT Headingley.

The game was the first group game of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, in which the Rhinos have been runners-up the last two years.

Seven different try scorers crossed for the Rhinos, including new signing Mel Howard and Sophie Nuttall, who returned from a year-long injury layoff.

Howard was one of two debutants, with academy prospect Connie Boyd making her first appearance from the subs bench. Meanwhile Shannon Lacey and Elle Frain returned to the side after lengthy periods on the sidelines.

The Rhinos started quick, crossing after just four minutes. Nuttall, who missed the 2024 season due to injury, wasted no time in making her presence felt. Spreading the ball left, Leeds were too fast for the Leigh defence and the winger dived over. Ruby Walker couldn’t add the touchline conversion.

England international Keara Bennett then scored from hooker, as she went from the ruck to capitalise on an unset Leopards defence. That was before Lucy Murray added her first of the game, receiving a short ball from Mel Howard before crashing over. Walker was unsuccessful with both kicks and after 12 minutes, Leeds led 12-0.

Walker added a fourth Leeds try minutes later, breaking the Leigh defence on half way. The young halfback used her speed and agility to round Leigh fullback Becky Greenfield to score under the posts. This time, she added the kick and with a quarter of an hour gone, Rhinos were 18 ahead.

The final try of the first half was a second for Murray. The 2024 Woman of Steel nominee again showed her class, finding a gap in the defence 40 metres out, and stepping Greenfield to score under the posts. Kicking duties turned to Howard, who slotted over for her first points for the Rhinos.

Leigh’s best chance at points came ten minutes from the break when they tried to play down the blind side. Leah Dootson fired a long ball to centre Mollie Young, but good defence from Jenna Greening and Liv Whitehead pushed her into touch. That would be the last scoring chance for either side, so at half time Leeds led 24-0.

At half time, the Rhinos made some notable changes. Shannon Lacey made way for another returnee, Elle Frain. Meanwhile Connie Boyd came on to the pitch for her Leeds debut in place of Jenna Greening.

The first try of the second half was arguably a try of the season contender from Evie Cousins. The centre took the ball on her own line before breaking the tackle and racing the length of the field to score under the posts. Howard converted once again to increase the lead to 30.

Leigh managed to add their first points of the game with 50 minutes on the clock. Lucy Johnson powered on to a ball from close range and the Leeds defence couldn’t keep her out. An unsuccessful conversion left the scores 30-4.

As the game crossed the hour mark, a try double for debutant Howard came next. Good link-up play between her and Ruby Bruce made for a great try under the posts. She was then in support of Whitehead, who raced down the left edge before cutting inside to offload to the stand off who went in untouched. Only the first of the two was converted, giving Leeds a 40-4 lead.

The final try of the game went to Ella Donnelly, who crossed under the posts after a strong run from 15 metres out. The loose forward powered her way through and wouldn’t be stopped to round off a dominant afternoon for Leon Crick’s Rhinos. Howard added the final conversion of the game, resulting in the full time score being 46-4 on a sunny afternoon at AMT Headingley.

Leeds: Stead, Whitehead, Greening, Cousins, Nuttall, Howard, Walker, Glynn, Bennett, Northrop, Lacey, Murray Donnelly. Subs: Bruce, Short, Frain, Boyd.
Tries: Howard x2, Murray x2, Bennett, Cousins, Donnelly, Nuttall, Walker
Goals: Howard 4/4, Walker 1/5