Leeds Rhinos U16s 10 Leigh Leopards U16s 23

Leeds Rhinos Scholarship suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in 2026 as Simon Brown’s side lost out 23-10 to Leigh Leopards at Stanningley.

After a heavy loss at Hull FC a week ago, Brown made six changes as second-year players Dexter Cooper, Alex Newell and Charlie Hagan featured in the matchday squad, whilst Lewis Kilner, Charlie Medley and Thai Hazelwood made their Under-16s debuts for the Rhinos. Despite the rotation of personnel, the Rhinos found themselves on the back foot from the first minute when Dillon Eshun and Joe Gill let the kick off bounce over the sidelines to give the visitors the first attacking opportunity.

The Leopards didn’t take long to make the chance count as quick handling Sonny Astley and Georgie McDermott posted Kadan Barker through to score the opening points inside 90 seconds.

Leeds brushed their early blunder off quickly as they began to settle into the contest. A high bomb from Henry Brough was chased up by Dexter Cooper, who forced Sam Ward to knock on in his own in-goal. From the ensuing drop out, good carries from Cooper and Jordan Barker-Day looked promising, until Gill knocked on Brough’s pass to turn the ball over.

The error was punished immediately by Leigh, who scored their second try of the game off the back of the scrum. Taking the ball back on his own 10 metre line, Astley dummied his way through the Leeds defence before breaking free to run 80 metres to score at the opposite end of the field. McDermott’s conversion made the score 12-0 after ten minutes.

The Rhinos had opportunities to fight their way back into the game, only to be stopped by Leigh’s defence at every turn. Wade Smith was unlucky not to get on the outside of David Asatani as the Leeds winger was forced into touch, before Barker-Day and Cooper were both held up in quick succession as the Leopards defence scrambled.

Finally the pressure told when Stan Marriott got the home side on the board before the 20 minute mark. Barker-Day had been denied by a ball steal as the hooker dived over the line, but as Leigh prepared to defend a third consecutive set on their try line, Marriott barrelled his way through a gap to get his first try of the year.

With both sides on the board, the game began to open up as Leigh answered back to the Rhinos try. Louie Cunliffe’s break set the Leopards up within scoring range as they searched for a third score, but good defence from Leeds turned the ball over on the last tackle. A knock on by Wade Smith – unable to take Charlie Hagan’s pass from dummy half – invited the Leopards to attack once more, and winger Asatani finished off a move wide to extend the away side’s lead to 10 points with half time in sight.

Leigh continued to push for more points all the way up to the break as Asatani had to be cut down by Wade Smith before a kick ahead from McDermott was dealt with well by Newell under pressure from the Leopards players giving chase. Smith had the best chance late in the half for Leeds, but the winger couldn’t reel in a looping pass over his head as the Rhinos went into the break 16-6 behind.

A closer second half saw only 11 total points scored as both sides invested in a close arm-wrestle. Smith continued to look lively on the wing as another break by the second year outside back was unlucky not to finish with a try in the corner. Leigh responded as Asatani broke free down the sideline, but three defenders tracked back to force the Leopards man out of play in a great show of defensive resolve from Brown’s side.

A try from Cooper set Leeds up for a potential comeback as the winger kicked an offload from Gill ahead before managing to get a hand on the ball. After consulting with the sideline officials, the try was awarded to bring Leeds back to 16-10 with over 25 minutes left to play.

After Asatani missed an opportunity to connect with a kick from Astley, Leeds couldn’t take a huge opportunity when Brough broke clear, but ran out of room as Ward forced the half back over the sidelines. The Rhinos kept the pressure on as they looked for an equalising score – a pressure felt by Leopards half back McDermott who chose to kick a drop goal with five minutes to go.

The result was sealed in the final moments by the visitors; Astley ducking and diving his way to seal a 23-10 final score and a second defeat of the season for Leeds.

Teams

Rhinos

1. Alex Newell, 2. Dexter Cooper, 3. Joe Gill, 4. Toby Wieland, 5. Wade Smith, 6. Henry Brough, 7. Oli Vincent, 8. Archie Butler, 9. Jordan Barker-Day, 10. Stan Marriott, 11. Dillon Eshun, 12. Oscar Brown, 13. Oliver Brown

Subs: 14. Charlie Hagan, 15. Charlie Medley, 16. Dylan Baira, 17. Lewis Kilner, 18. Laike Smith, 19. Thai Hazelwood, 20. Myles Hartley

Tries: Marriott (18), Cooper (52)

Goals: Brough 1/2

Leopards

1. Jake Hancock, 2. David Asatani, 3. Isaac O’Brien, 4. Olly Cartwright, 5. Sam Ward, 6. Sonny Astley, 7. Georgie McDermott, 8. Jamie Graham, 9. Finlay Twiss, 10. Charlie Leech, 11. Ben Sykes, 12. Kadan Barker, 13. Louie Cunliffe

Subs: 14. Kobi Greenall, 15. Zak Hatton, 16. Lennon Sargent, 17. Haddison Etchou, 18. Max Cooney, 19. Austin Townsend, 20. Harrison Jackson

Tries: Barker (1), Astley (11), Asatani (29)

Goals: McDermott 2/3

Drop Goal: McDermott 1/1