Lachlan Lam scored a dramatic golden point to win the Challenge Cup for Leigh Leopards after a pulsating final ended 17-16 at Wembley. For his dad, for captain John Asiata, even for the leopard print clad Derek Beaumont, this was the moment of magic this club has dreamed of.
There were tears from all of the Lam family as Lachlan scored the winning drop goal for Adrian and in a final that neither side deserved to lose, Leigh came out on top. They thought they had blown it as Hull KR bagged the equalising try with just one minute to go in normal time, but they backed themselves in a dramatic golden point period, and got over the line.
The only sour note is that due to awful traffic problems on the M1, 20,000 fans didn’t arrive in time for kick-off, but by the end the game, the atmosphere was absolutely rocking.
It was a tough start for Kingston Rovers, as they conceded two penalties in the opening four minutes. Ben Reynolds converted one of them to put Leigh 2-0 up but this was a close run final, which had us gripped from start to finish.
Gareth O'Brien had an awful knock-on on his own ten metre line but Leigh escaped and then pressed on as more ill discipline handed them another penalty. However, Reynolds made a mistake as he wasted the chance to double the Leopards’ lead.
From nowhere, Hull KR scored the opening try of the match as Elliot Minchella burst through the Leopards defence with brute force before teeing up Hull-born Jez Litten to cross to the delight of the Rovers fans. Brad Schneider added the extras and Rovers were 6-2 up.
However, Leigh were ready for the big occasion. Lachlan Lam put the final touch on a wonderful try for Leopards as his dad watched on.They needed a moment of magic to get themselves back into the game and he played a one-two with John Asiata, as he put his side level at Wembley. Reynolds put his side 8-6 up and Leigh were back ahead in the final.
The most controversial moment of the first half came after 30 minutes, as Minchella was sin-binned for a late challenge on Reynolds. He became the first man since 2001 to be sin-binned in a Challenge Cup final, and Reynolds got up to extend Leigh’s lead.
Ryan Hall then inexplicably dropped the ball when his side were down to 12, as Adrian Lam’s side piled on the pressure. However, Hull KR defended superbly to the delight of their fans behind that goal, as they forced a mistake from the rampaging Edwin Ipape.
Another knock-on gave Leigh Leopards six goes at another try but yet more brilliant defending kept them out. As the hooter sounded, Rovers were awarded their first penalty of the match. It looked as though Reynolds moved his head towards the opposition player and although he avoided a card, Schneider landed a long-range penalty to make the score 8-10.
The 80th Challenge Cup final at Wembley was well in the balance at half-time and KR came out and levelled the scores with a penalty.Leigh came back at them and battled their way towards the try line as Charnley was held up after more incredible defending.. But with 15 minutes to go, they would get over the line. Tom Briscoe was left with the freedom of the capital on the right wing and he made no mistake to give Derek Beaumont the lead he desired.
Wearing a leopard print jacket, as the club adorned their new leopard print strip, he was as delighted as any fan in the stadium as they edged closer to glory. Reynolds nailed one from the touchline to but Lam’s side 16-10 up.
Hull KR poured on the pressure as they hunted down the try they desperately craved with the minutes running out, but Leigh held firm. With just over one minute left, Hull KR launched a huge crossfield kick which Leigh couldn’t deal with in the air, and it bounced off a defending hand before Matt Parcell got the ball over the line.
It was the most dramatic ending as Schneider stepped up to the tee. He had to make the kick to tie the scores. His drop goal took Hull KR to this point. Then he nailed the penalty that took us to Golden Point with the scores level at 16-16.
The psychological impact of Leigh being one minute away from glory and having to go again pushed them to the limit. From kick off, Hull KR won a penalty, but the Red and Whites failed to find touch.
O’Brien, the man who relegated Hull KR all those years ago lined up for the kick but missed the upright as Hull KR survived. Then Schneider missed a long range drop goal which was far too ambitious. Leigh then broke forward and got the winning point.
52 years ago Alex Murphy last lifted Leigh to the ultimate glory and in 2023, another crafty half-back, Lachlan Lam, scored the winning drop goal. What a day, what a game, what a story.
