By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women earned a heart-fought win over Leigh Leopards Women, as two tries from Lucy Murray helped them to their sixth win of the season.

Head coach Lois Forsell made three changes from the win at Barrow Raiders last week. Star prop forward Izzy Northrop was ruled out through concussion protocols, with Connie Boyd and Jess Sharp also dropping out. In came Grace Short, Elle Frain and Jenna Greening, all of whom started on the bench.

Leeds were dealt a huge blow early in the game as winger Liv Whitehead was helped from the field with an ankle injury. The winger has scored five tries in ten league appearances this year.

That wouldn’t stop them from posting the first points, however, as Leeds shifted the ball along the line to opposite winger Tally Bryer. The former Featherstone Rovers player was on the end of a good team move, as she dived in the corner to score. Mel Howard was off target with the conversion, however it would be the only attempt she would miss across the afternoon.

Lucy Murray then scored her first of the game, as a short ball from Howard allowed her to sail through a gap before touching down under the posts. The try meant she had now scored 100 points in her Rhinos career.

The Leopards managed to respond on 20 minutes, as quick passes allowed them to create a gap on the right edge, in which Mackenzie Taylor crossed over. A missed conversion made for a 10-4 scoreline in favour of the Rhinos.

Two more tries before half time allowed Leeds to gain full control of the game. First, Ruby Bruce scampered over from dummy half, fooling the defence that were camped on the try line. That was before Ebony Stead scored arguably the try of the afternoon, catching a Leopards kick and running 40m down the touch line before cutting inside to score. At halftime, Leeds led 22-4.

In the second half, it was the Leopards who scored first. Hooker Kate Howard managed to get over the line to get one back for the hosts, in what would be their final try of the game.

After sustaining Leigh pressure with relative success, only conceding one try, Leeds managed to lay a platform once again.

Mel Howard linked up with Bella Sykes, as a one-two between the pair opened a gap for the halfback to score. Leeds almost crossed on the following set, with Murray breaking free. However, Evie Cousins couldn’t take in the final pass to beat the fullback, and the chance went begging.

Murray’s second try came just after the hour mark, as a brilliant line from the back rower split two sliding defenders to score.

The final try came from Sophie Nuttall, as the centre managed to crash over on the hooter. The centre was too strong for the Leopards defence, and was the final nail in the coffin as the Rhinos eanred a hard-fought 40-10 victory.

Leeds: Ebony Stead, Liv Whitehead, Evie Cousins, Sophie Nuttall, Tally Bryer, Mel Howard, Ruby Walker, Ella Donnelly, Ruby Bruce, Kaiya Glynn, Shannon Brown, Lucy Murray, Bella Sykes.

Subs: Grace Short, Frankie Blakey, Elle Frain, Jenna Greening

Tries: Nuttall, Murray x2, Bryer, Stead, Bruce, Howard

Goals: Howard 6/8