Joy as Leigh Leopards lift first Challenge Cup title for 52 years after dramatic win at Wembley

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Leigh Leopards won their first Challenge Cup triumph in more than half a century in a thrilling final at Wembley. Lachlan Lam's golden point drop clinched a dramatic 17-16 win over Hull KR to end 52 years of hurt.

Lam, the son of Leopards head coach Adrian, made no mistake in a dramatic extra period after team-mate Gareth O’Brien spurned an earlier chance and Brad Schneider also fell short for Rovers.

Tom Briscoe’s late try left Leigh, known as the Centurions, within two minutes of victory in normal time before Matt Parcell pounced to slap down a high kick and Schneider’s nerveless conversion forced the extra period. Join our WhatsAp p Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link. It was a remarkable ending to an absorbing but error-strewn affair in which the magnitude of the occasion clearly got to both sides as they sought to end their long waits for silverware.

And all the more amazing was the sight of the leopard skin-clad Leigh staff storming onto the pitch to celebrate one of the most remarkable cup wins in the sport’s history in the first season back among the game’s elite.