Derek Beaumont unhappy with Leigh Leopards fans who let the club down after semi-final

Leigh Leopards are going to Wembley after they defeated St Helens in a pulsating game at Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium and they will now meet the winner of Wigan Warriors and Hull KR tomorrow at Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium.

The game was a truly amazing affair between two top teams.

The Saints led 6-0 at the break through a burrowing effort from Joey Lussick on his last appearance for the club.

However, Tommy Makinson missed a penalty to make it 8-0.

In the second half, Oliver Holmes would pull Leigh level before Zak Hardaker made it 10-6 in teh corner.

After Sione Mata’utia was sin binned, Leigh nailed a penalty to make it 12-6 which would be the decisive factor in a famous win for the club despite a late Jonny Lomax try.

After the game the mastermind behind it all Derek Beaumont spoke to BBC and though elated the Leigh boss didn’t condone those who ran onto the pitch at fulltime.

“It is all about the team, the fans. I’m not proud of what happened there because that is not what our club stands for,” he said.

Beaumont was seen telling fans to get off the pitch at the end.

It has been 50 years since the Leopards played at Wembley and now their fans can start to dream of replicating their win over Leeds in the 1970s.

So it was no surprise to see them rush onto the pitch at full time and take pictures with the players and just hold them.

It was quite moving to see the emotion on their faces as they thanked players for fulfilling their Wembley dream.

Of course, pitch invasions cannot be condoned but it shows just how special 2023 is for the Leopards.

Beaumont also praised his players: “The players, you talk about turning up, turning up, turning up. The first half I thought Saints played nearly perfect rugby but we kept defending.

“Eventually we got some time in good ball and they gave it.

He then underlined the focus on the final for his side now: “I am a bit obsessed with it, I just want to achieve. You never fail until you stop trying. We have only got there and there is still a final to play.”