Super League: Leeds Rhinos lose to Leigh Leopards on opening night as Catalans Dragons beat Huddersfield | Rugby League News

Leigh Leopards scored five tries as they opened their Super League campaign with a 26-14 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Leigh Sports Village.

Leeds, who finished just behind their opponents last season in fourth, went first on the table thanks to a Chris Hankinson penalty after Jarrod O'Connor had the ball out of his reach.

But Innes Senior came through the corner in the 16th minute – latching onto a clever one-handed pass from Lachlan Lam – and the score was 10-2 at the break after Edwin Ipape dived for Leigh's second try.

There were errors from both sides, and another very costly one from Leeds right from the restart led to the third try, 10 seconds into the second half.

Riley Lumb knocked the ball down from the kickoff, with Jack Hughes kicking and then landing.

Matt Davis' next try, which also owed much to Leeds' errors, was initially disallowed, but the video referee ruled he had grounded the ball after a lengthy review.

Cooper Jenkins' 52nd-minute individual effort gave Leeds their first try, as tempers frayed and a mass brawl ended with Harry Newman and Davis both sent to the dustbin.

Leigh extended their lead to 18 points thanks to Lam's 66th-minute try, with Brodie Croft's late score for Leeds little consolation.

The Catalans start the season with a victory at Huddersfield

The Catalans started their Betfred Super League campaign with a victory after beating Huddersfield 26-10 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Tries from Ben Condon and Charlie Staines gave the hosts the lead before Sam Halsall responded just before half-time, but further touchdowns from Tommy Makinson and Solomona Faataape secured a first-round victory, either side of George Flanagan's cross.

The Dragons opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Condon touched down and Toby Sexton added the extras before almost extending their advantage, but Faataape's effort was canceled out by the video referee.

Sexton sent the Dragons over with a penalty and Staines burst through a gap to score their second try of the evening, with Sexton converting.

Oliver Russell was shown a yellow card for Huddersfield for a professional foul, but the visitors managed to pull one back just before half-time when Halsall rushed to cross into the corner, but Flanagan was unable to convert.

With a 14-4 lead, the Catalans almost scored early in the second half through Sexton, but they quickly scored their third try – in the 64th minute – when Faataape sent the ball to Makinson's ground, with Sexton converting.

Flanagan then responded minutes later for the Giants after chasing down Tuimoala Lolohea's kick and then scored under the posts before converting a try of his own.

However, the French ended the match six minutes from time when Faataape charged down the left and Sexton's conversion was successful.

Catalans Dragons coach Joel Tomkins: “We learned some lessons from last week [against Batley]I don't know exactly what the result was today, but it was pretty good. Overall, we're really happy with some of the things we did tonight.

“I'm really proud, proud of the effort. I was really happy with the energy and enthusiasm that we came in with. Really good signs for us for the rest of the season. If we can keep that energy level, we'll be fine.”

After competing in the rain, Huddersfield Giants coach Luke Robinson said: “I think all the credit goes to the Catalans, I think they gave us a little lesson on how to play rugby in wet weather.

“It was a bit of a battle of energy, particularly towards the end of the first half, they scored four tries and we scored two, so there wasn't much going on. But I think the field position and territory was huge and that was down to the fact we gave away seven penalties in that first half.”