Toby Sexton kicked Catalans Dragons to a much-needed Super League win as the Leigh Leopards’ new season woes continued at Leigh Sports Village.
Smarting from last week’s home humbling against St Helens, the French side chiselled out a 22-16 victory with half-back Sexton contributing two penalties and three conversions.
It meant more misery for Leigh who shipped nine tries in a wipeout by neighbours Wigan last week and came into the game desperate to ignite their faltering campaign.
Early signs were good for the home side as Catalans winger Tommy Makinson pulled out injured in the warm-up then Innes Senior burst clear and fed Tesi Niu to open the scoring.
Adam Cook’s kick took Leigh’s lead to six before Harvey Wilson barged over at close quarters and Sexton’s first contribution ensured the two sides were locked together at 6-6 at the interval.
Second-half tries from Charlie Staines and Lewis Dodd were cancelled out by Senior and Niu respectively as the Leopards stayed in with a shout but it was Sexton’s kicking that would make the difference.
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Lewis Dodd finishes off superb Catalans Dragons breakaway try against Leigh Leopards!
His accuracy kept Catalans in the clear and a second penalty two minutes from time helped the French side erase the memory of last weekend’s painful home defeat.
For Leigh boss Adrian Lam there is plenty to ponder after another loss that leaves his side – who reached the play-off semi-finals last year – languishing with just one win from their first four games.
Warrington defeat newly-promoted York
Josh Thewlis and Sam Stone scored two tries each as Warrington edged a richly-entertaining 38-30 win over newly-promoted York to extend their unbeaten start to the new Super League season.
Sam Burgess’ men roared into an early 16-point lead only for the hosts to hit back and lead 18-16 to set the tone for a remarkable and error-strewn clash at the LNER Community Stadium.
Tries from Stone, Thewlis and Cai Taylor-Wray got Wire off to a flying start and two Marc Sneyd kicks looked set to make it the simplest of nights for the high-flying visitors.
But, showing the kind of fight that has seen the Knights already upset the likes of Hull KR this season, Mark Applegarth’s men were in front before the half-hour mark.
Ben Jones-Bishop, Denive Balmforth and Toa Mata’afa all crossed, with three conversions from Danny Richardson capping the revival in front of a raucous home crowd.
But the momentum shifted back in the other direction as Stone’s second try, converted by Sneyd, gave Wire a four-point half-time advantage.
Further tries from George Williams and Ben Currie extended Warrington’s lead to 14 points before York revived themselves again, converted efforts from former Wire man Paul Vaughan and Liam Harris setting up a grandstand finish.
York sensed a winner but it was Warrington who finally made the game safe when the impressive Stone sent Thewlis over in the corner and Sneyd’s kick effectively snuffed out York’s remaining hopes.
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
- Super League’s 30th birthday: Thu Mar 26: Castleford Tigers vs Bradford Bulls, 8pm (Sky Sports)
- Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
- Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
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