BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Leigh have ended a 52-year wait for the Challenge Cup, claiming a momentous victory over Hull KR thanks to a golden point field goal from Lachlan Lam.
With the scores locked at 10-10 at half-time, and then 16-16 at full-time, it was Lam’s timely effort in the 85th minute in extra-time that ultimately proved the difference in a tremendously tight contest.
The Leopards last won the Cup in 1971, but have now added a piece of shiny silverware to mark their awesome ascension towards the top of English rugby league.
Considering both of these clubs were in the Championship not so long ago, at different stages, it was some feat just to get to this final.
That both of these clubs are in the top six of Super League shows how far both organisations have come.
Blood was spilled, sweat poured and maximum efforts were given. Nothing was left out on the hallowed turf.
After St Helens made history and beat Leeds in the first women’s Challenge Cup at Wembley, Leigh and Hull KR took centre stage.
Tensions spilled over in the third minute after John Asiata launched a tackle at the knees of George King.
Hull KR were penalised after the ruckus, with Ben Reynolds’ kick giving Leigh an early 2-0 lead.
Reynolds went to add another two points in the 13th minute, after another penalty awarded against the Robins, but missed his kick.
The Leopards had all the early running but it was Hull KR who struck first, after Elliot Minchella brilliantly brushed past a few defenders to set up Jez Litten.
Brad Schneider nailed the conversion to make it 6-2. But the lead didn’t last long.
Leigh hit back in the 21st minute through Lam, when the halfback found Kai O’Donnell who sliced through the line and passed back to Lam for the try.
Reynolds added the extras and Leigh were ahead 8-6.
Drama struck 10 minutes before half-time when Minchella was sin-binned, after Reynolds was hit late off the ball after a kick with an elbow to the head.
Minchella was marched for 10and the halfback’s kick extended it to 10-6.
Somehow the red and whites from east Yorkshire managed to keep them out.
It was a scrappy first half with several dropped balls and ruck errors. Kane Linnett’s mistake near his own try-line handed the Leopards another chance to strike, but they were unable to take advantage.
Right on half-time another melee broke out, this time between Mikey Lewis and Reynolds. Leigh were penalised for it and Schneider stepped up to cut the lead back to 10-8.
With only two points the difference, the final was evenly poised at the interval.
In the second half were there was more loose handling and niggle. After O’Donnell was penalised for a fracas in the 45th minute, Schneider tied the game up at 10-10.
Then Ethan Ryan dropped the ball near his own line in the 56th minute. Only tremendous defence from Hull KR kept Josh Charnley from touching down in the next set.
As the minutes ticked away the nerves around the stadium grew. Would Schneider step up and launch the third winning field goal of his short Robins’ career?
It was not to be, as with 15 minutes left it was Tom Briscoe – the man who hurt Hull KR in 2015 – who crossed in the corner. A quick shift to the right found Briscoe in space and the winger socred untouched easily.
Reynolds made no mistake from the sideline and Leigh were ahead at 16-10. The game appeared over. Dead and dusted.
But the Robins were not done yet, and snatched an equaliser late.
With less than two minutes left Matt Parcell grounded a Schneider bomb, after a mad scramble in the in-goal area, and the referee sent it up as a try. The video referee reviewed the footage again and again, and again and again, and finally ruled it a try.
Schneider tied it up at 16-16 all and we were off to golden point.
The tension went up several notches and then Hull KR failed to find touch, after an early penalty. The first chance for a field goal went to Leigh, but Gareth O’Brien fluffed it.
The Robins worked their way down the field and it was Schneider’s turn, but his attempt was way short.
Then it was Lam’s turn, and after the Hull KR defence rushed O’Brien the space was there for the son of the Leigh coach, who made no mistake.
The Robins had given it their all, but the Leopards would not be bowed, and it was the little town in Lancashire left celebrating today.
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