Match Report – Leigh 26 – 0 Salford

Edwin Ipape and Umyla Hanley each cross for Leigh Leopards within the first half, whereas Zak Hardaker kicks three targets; Salford Purple Devils have each Ethan Ryan and Brad Singleton sin-binned; watch all of Sunday’s matches of Magic Weekend 2024 stay on Sky Sports activities Motion

Zak Hardaker’s 14-point haul helped Leigh Leopards maintain their Betfred Tremendous League play-off hopes alive as they beat Salford Purple Devils 20-0 within the opening recreation of day two of Magic Weekend at Elland Highway.

Tries from Edwin Ipape and Umyla Hanley, each of which have been transformed by full-back Hardaker, helped the Leopards right into a 12-0 lead at half time, with the Purple Devils being all the way down to 11 at one level after having Ethan Ryan and Brad Singleton despatched to the sin bin in fast succession.

It proved a a lot closer-fought affair after the break, however Hardaker, who additionally added a penalty, and Ricky Leutele’s transformed scores within the closing phases put the seal on a significant victory for the Leopards over one of many sides above them heading into Magic Weekend.

The win strikes Leigh to inside three factors of Salford and a top-six spot which might safe a spot within the play-offs for the second 12 months working, with 5 matches of the Tremendous League common season remaining.

Story of the sport

The Purple Devils had made a constructive begin to the competition, however Ryan Brierley being penalised for making an attempt to play on after referee Liam Moore deemed a sort out on the full-back to have been accomplished arrange a spell on the offensive for Leigh from which they took the lead.

It was Papua New Guinea worldwide Ipape who received the Leopards up and working with a trademark burst out of dummy-half, adopted by crashing via the defensive position to complete beneath the posts and provides Hardaker a easy conversion.

Salford instantly exerted strain on Leigh from the restart as they compelled a goal-line drop-out but have been unable to capitalise after which discovered themselves a participant down quickly on 12 minutes after winger Ryan was despatched to the sin bin for a excessive sort out on Ricky Leutele.

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Salford’s Ethan Ryan and Brad Singleton have been sin-binned for top tackles in fast succession towards Leigh.

5 minutes later, 12 grew to become 11 as prop Singleton was proven a yellow card after catching Gareth O’Brien across the neck, and the Leopards quickly exploited the gaps for his or her second strive as Hanley burst via two tackles and grabbed a tremendous solo transformed strive halfway via the half.

Salford started to claw their manner again into the competition after they have been finally restored to their full complement, though that they had a doable strive from Tim Lafai three minutes earlier than half time dominated out by the video referee for a knock-on within the build-up.

A penalty for a late hit on Gareth O’Brien by Oliver Partington allowed Hardaker so as to add one other two factors to Leigh’s tally from a kick at aim six minutes into the second half.

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Umyla Hanley breaks via the defence of a stretched eleven-man Salford staff to increase Leigh’s lead.

It then took to excellent last-ditch defence from Purple Devils interchange participant Chris Hankinson, on for Salford talisman Brierley, to forestall O’Brien from including a 3rd strive simply earlier than the hour mark.

Hardaker, who will depart the Leopards for Hull FC on the finish of the 2024 marketing campaign together with captain John Asiata, made sure of the win eight minutes from time as he took a go from Ipape after the hooker had damaged the road after which raced away to complete.

There was nonetheless time for centre Leutele so as to add some additional gloss to the ultimate rating when he completed broad on the left within the 77th minute, adopted by Hardaker maintaining his excellent report for the day with the boot.

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Edwin Ipape breaks to ship Zak Hardaker over to safe Leigh’s win over Salford at Elland Highway.

What they mentioned

Leigh Leopards participant of the match Zak Hardaker:

“I think for the last four or five weeks we started pretty well. The two sin bins helped us.

“It’s a large assertion. If we play pretty much as good as we will do we will problem each staff.

“We are under no illusion that we need to win the rest of our games to finish top six.”

Zak Hardaker added a attempt to 5 targets in Leigh’s Magic Weekend win over Salford at Elland Highway.

Salford Purple Devils head coach Paul Rowley:

“I didn’t think we executed well at all. I don’t think we had our best game – credit to Leigh.

“I believed it was going to be the straightforward issues right now. It did not must be something magic.

“We will bounce back, don’t worry about that. We are not going to give in.”

What’s subsequent?

Leigh Leopards are again in motion on Sunday August 25 after they journey to London Broncos (3pm). Salford Purple Devils play their Spherical 23 match the day earlier than after they host Huddersfield Giants (5.30pm). Each matches are stay on Sky Sports activities+.

How can I watch Magic Weekend?

Each match of the weekend might be proven stay on Sky Sports activities Motion throughout the weekend and might be accessible to stream on NOW.

Watch each match of the 2024 Betfred Tremendous League season, together with the play-offs and males’s, ladies’s and wheelchair Grand Finals, stay on Sky Sports activities and Sky Sports activities+. Additionally stream Tremendous League, the NRL and extra from Sky Sports activities with NOW.