Leigh Leopards share hilarious image of Derek Beaumont

Leigh Leopards have won the Challenge Cup defeating Hull KR in the first Challenge Cup Final without Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens since 1986.

It is a deserved moment for owner Derek Beaumont who masterminded the club’s rebrand and the signings that have underpinned their success.

At the end of 2022 he said Leigh would win a Challenge Cup or Super League within the next three to five years and he has delivered that.

Yes Lachlan Lam may have been literally the match winner but it doesn’t happen without Beaumont and he produced a great, hilarious and bizarre moment at full time.

As Lam’s drop goal sailed over to give Leigh the win, Beaumont, in full leopard print suit, ran onto the field to celebrate diving into embraces.

Who would have thought that we would see a rich owner in a leopard print suit dashing onto the pitch at Wembley in a Challenge Cup Final?

Some fantastic images of the moment have now surfaced as Beaumont all but joined the pile on.

Beaumont, in full leopard print suit, could be seen diving into the huddle on the pitch.

But that wasn’t where the memorable moments would end with Leigh sharing a brilliant picture of Beaumont going to sleep with the Challenge Cup trophy like Steven Gerrard did with the Champions League trophy in 2005.

😴 @derek_beaumont’s dream #ChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/fDP5NSj2ND

— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) August 13, 2023

It was a great game as Hull KR struck first. Elliot Minchella gave away that penalty but immediately made amends as he broke through and found Jez Litten in support to score.

A Tom Briscoe error nearly led to a Tom Opacic try as the ball was kicked ahead. Opacic was then tripped up by Lachlan Lam who went for the ball but it was deemed an accident and no penalty try was given.

Leigh then said anything you can do we can do better as Kai O’Donnell broke through in similar fashion finding Lachlan Lam in support to score.

Minchella’s strange day kept going as he was penalised for a hit on Ben Reynolds and the Leopards took a 10-6 lead as Hull KR went down to 12 men.

Hull KR then nailed a penalty of their own on the stroke of halftime to make it 10-8.

The second half started as the first one ended with a Hull KR penalty as Hull KR drew level at 10-all.

It was then a very tense second half as neither side gave each other an inch. Try scoring sensation Josh Charnley had a chance when he got the ball wide but was held up.

Tom Briscoe scores tries at Wembley like it’s his backyard. Today was his eighth Challenge Cup Final try in his fifth final appearance and his eighth in the last four. He struck a decisive blow in the corner for the Leopards after a sweeping move.

But that try was cancelled out when Parcell touched down to score in the 79th minute after a kick bounced off Zak Hardaker.

However, in the end it was Leigh who will lift the Challenge Cup after a golden point drop goal from Lachlan Lam won the game for the club.