Leeds up to third with emphatic win over Leigh

Ruby Walker went over twice as Leeds comfortably beat Leigh Leopards

Betfred Women's Super League

Leeds (20) 48

Tries: Northrop, Walker (2), Howard, Dainton, Whitehead, Bruce, Brown, Cousins, Nuttall Goals: Howard 4

Leigh (4) 12

Tries: Blackwood, Howard, Taylor

Leeds Rhinos moved into third place in the Women's Super League table with an emphatic 48-12 victory over Leigh Leopards at Headingley.

Only table-topping Wigan Warriors have scored more points than the Rhinos this season and they added 10 more tries to their tally as Leigh struggled to contain them.

First-half tries from Izzy Northrop, Mel Howard and two from Ruby Walker were followed the other side of the break by scores from Bethan Dainton, Liv Whitehead, Ruby Bruce, Shannon Brown, Evie Cousins and Sophie Nuttall.

Leigh, who had taken a fourth-minute lead when Toryn Blackwood went over, added two of their own in the second period through hooker Katie Howard and centre Mackenzie Taylor.

But, in truth, they had few answers to the superior running patterns of the Rhinos who led comfortably at the break and were always in control.

Leigh, who were promoted to Super League last season, can console themselves with the fact they are getting slightly closer - Leeds ran out 46-4 winners when the sides met in last season's Challenge Cup.

Yet if they were inclined to take too many positives from this defeat, Leeds stand-off Mel Howard did not having the greatest night from the tee, missing six of 10 conversion attempts.

Leopards were at least quick out of the blocks, with Blackwood opening the scoring in the corner. But after the try scorer went off for a head injury assessment, Rhinos hit back quickly and were soon out of sight.

Three unanswered tries sent the Rhinos in 20-4 up at the break, and a two-try burst in the first three minutes of the second period put them almost over the horizon at 30-4.

With Leeds threatening a drubbing, Leopards at least demonstrated some resilience to bring it back to 30-12 with two tries from Howard and Taylor.

Yet any thoughts of a comeback were quickly snuffed out as Leeds ran in four more tries from there to the hooter.

Leeds: Stead, Whitehead, Nuttall, Greening, Cousins, Howard, Walker, Northrop, Bennett, Donnelly, Brown, Boyd, Dainton.

Interchanges: Sykes, Bruce, Short, Sharp.

Leigh: Dogus, Blackwood, Taylor, Cobain, Johnston, Burke, L. Morris, Dainty, Howard, Baggaley, K. Morris, Melvin, Latchford.

Interchanges: Fisher, Johnson, Higson, Roberts.

Referee: Owen Taylor