By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women extended their unbeaten run to five matches after a 72-0 victory over Leigh Leopards.

Lois Forsell's side scored eight tries in the first half, and another six in the second to cap off an excellent day of women's rugby league at Headingley, following the U19's 86-0 win over Warrington earlier in the day.

Lucy Murray and Ruby Enright dropped out of last week's side that beat St Helens. Tally Bryer returned on the wing, moving Ebony Stead to full-back, whilst there was a start for Grace Short and a return on the bench for Jess Sharp.

Leeds started the afternoon all guns blazing, and crossed for two tries in the opening five minutes. Liv Whitehead added her 11th of the season after a passing move right, before Amelia Hirst touched down on the opposite flank after fending off Toryn Blackwood with ease.
Mel Howard couldn't add either conversion, so early doors, Rhinos led 8-0.

The Leopards tried to find their way into the game, and were able to create some good field position. Errors in key areas let them down, though, and the chances were spurned.

Either side of the hydration break, Leeds touched down, as Keara Bennett and two tries from Mel Howard increased the lead even further. Howard's short ball to Ella Donnelly allowed Bennett to break free and score, before the half-back crossed for two in five minutes thanks to some individual brilliance. Two of the conversions were added, giving Leeds a 24-point lead after 25 minutes.

Three more tries came before the half-time hooter. Ebony Stead scored her 13th of the season after somehow finding a way through the Leopards defence. Ruby Bruce then took the ball from dummy half and raced 40 metres to add the sixth of the half, before Hirst's second rounded out the first half scoring. Howard was on target for all three scores to give Leeds a 42-0 lead at half-time.

The Rhinos were dealt a blow early in the second half, with full-back Stead needing to be helped off the field due to injury. That forced a positional switch, with Tally Bryer moving to the number one role, Whitehead switching back to the wing, and Lacey Owen moving to the centres.

Scores for Grace Short, Ruby Walker and Whitehead's second got Leeds rolling after the break. Short profited from a short ball from Howard, whilst Walker's score was a piece of individual brilliance, breaking from long range before beating the full-back to score.

Whitehead, now featuring on the wing, would finish off a passing move right, with the final ball from Lacey Owen crucial to the move. Another two points from Howard increased the Rhinos' lead to 56-0.

Connie Boyd and Frankie Blakey were next on the scoresheet, with the former using her strength to go over herself, rather than pass to winger Hirst. Blakey's support play earner her a four-pointer, with the youngster on the outside of Walker, who offloaded for a walk-in under the posts.

Walker's second proved to be the final points of the game. The half-back opted to use the blind side, and was able to evade defenders before finding a way to get the ball down on the right edge to give Leeds a 72-0 win.

Rhinos: Stead, Hirst, Boyd, Whitehead, Bryer, Howard, Walker, Glynn, Bennett, Brown, Owen, Short, Donnelly
Bench: Bruce, Sharp, Blakey, Elliston

Tries: Howard x2, Whitehead x2, Walker x2, Hirst x2, Stead, Boyd, Bennett, Short, Bruce, Blakey
Goals: Howard 8/14