Leigh secure vital two points against York to bolster Super League playoff position
Adrian Lam’s side move four points clear of seventh-placed St Helens, while York’s momentum stalls after previous victory over Saints.
Leigh Leopards have strengthened their hold on a Super League playoff position following a 22-14 victory over York Knights. The result keeps the Leopards in sixth place, level on points with Warrington Wolves and Hull KR, while establishing a four-point buffer over seventh-placed St Helens. The win marks the club’s 14th of the season and halts a period of disappointment for the home side, which had suffered a poor performance in the preceding week.
Leigh opened the scoring through Josh Charnley and Joe Ofahengaue in the first half, taking a 12-10 lead into the break despite Joe Bennison scoring twice for York. Adam Cook kicked three goals for Leigh, while Bennison converted one of his own tries. The hosts extended their advantage in the second half with tries from Andy Badrock and David Armstrong, pushing the score to 22-10. Bennison completed his hat-trick with eight minutes remaining, but a missed conversion left York two scores behind for the remainder of the match.
Leigh head coach Adrian Lam characterised the team’s performance as "flat" but emphasised the strategic importance of securing the victory. Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Lam noted that the side was "on a bit of a downer" after the previous week but acknowledged the value of the two points. He stated that the win places them four points clear in the top six, allowing the club to focus on climbing the ladder ahead of the next fixture.
For York, the defeat represents a halt in momentum following their impressive victory over St Helens in the previous round. The Knights remain in 10th place in the table. York head coach Mark Applegarth attributed the loss to a lack of game management and a poor start to the second half, describing the period as "loose" and noting that it invited Leigh back into the contest with easy field position.
Applegarth told BBC Radio York that while he felt his team played tough, they ultimately invited pressure on themselves. He cited the second-half start as the decisive factor, adding that Leigh’s ability to manage the game despite not being at their best served as a "great lesson" for the visitors. The result leaves York unable to build on their previous success, while Leigh consolidates their standing in the upper half of the Super League table.
