We’re two months into the Women’s Northern Championship and Leigh Leopards are currently top of the competition tree with five wins from five.
The Leopards missed out on promotion to the Betfred Women’s Super League at the end of last year but have started their campaign in blistering form having scored 240 points already this season.
The record books were re-written during their game against Castleford Tigers in Round 5 with Leigh bagging a club record score and Charlotte Melvin setting new goals and points records for their Women’s team.
Melvin amassed a personal haul of 28 points from a try and twelve goals and fullback Hattie Dogus scored a hat-trick as Kieron Purtill’s ruthlessly demolished the Tigers 84-0.
Hot on their heels are Hull KR who have won all three of their opening rounds against Salford Red Devils, Dewsbury Moor and Castleford Tigers. The Robins had an impressive end of season run in 2023 and secured a Championship Treble - tying up the League Cup, League Leader’s Shield and the Championship Grand Final.
Salford are also on level points with Hull, and since returning to league fixtures following the completion of their Challenge Cup run, the Red Devils notched up relatively comfortable wins against Bradford Bulls and Stanningley but Oulton Raidettes provided a much sterner test.
Second-rower, Emily Bagguley, scored the decider with five minutes left on the clock when she ran onto a Michelle Davis pass with spot-on timing, and at a great angle, all of which took her half-way through the line of defence, and she eventually crashed over the whitewash to clinch a 16-14 win.
2024 heralds a new era for Women’s Rugby League and, as the national pyramid comes into play. The winners of the Northern and Southern championship will face each other at the end of September for the national champion title – and for the right to compete for a place in the Betfred Women’s Super League against the side finishing bottom in that competition.
You can find a full list of results and upcoming Women’s Northern Championship fixtures here.
