Super League issue important statement on abandoned Leigh Leopards match

The Super League season is at a pivotal point with Wigan Warriors now top, Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC, Hull KR and Salford Red Devils fighting for play-off spots and a relegation scrap at the bottom between Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers.

Truth be told, the season could ill afford an abandoned match but you know what they say about the best made plans.

Sadly, last night the clash between Leigh Leopards and Huddersfield Giants was abandoned around the 50 minute mark after a 55 minute delay due to a floodlight failure.

Super League have now issued a statement on the match saying: “Both clubs have been asked to make submissions to the RFL Board overnight before a decision is made on how to resolve the situation.”

Tonight's @Betfred #SuperLeague match between @LeighLeopardsRL & @Giantsrl has been abandoned because of floodlight failure.

Both clubs have been asked to make submissions to the RFL board overnight before a decision is made on how to resolve the situation.

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 1, 2023

The club & Huddersfield will make submissions to the RL this evening and post further updates on the situation tomorrow. We apologise to all fans for the inconvenience and wish everybody a safe journey home.

— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) September 1, 2023

Safe journey home, Cowbell Army. 👋

More information on what the next steps are will be communicated in due course.#CowbellArmy🐮🔔 pic.twitter.com/kE5GlCZNit

— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) September 1, 2023

Huddersfield Giants travelled to the Leigh Sports Village to face the Leopards with the two teams entering following contrasting results, the Leopards having lost both games since their famous Wembley win whereas the Giants had kept their season alive with victory over Leeds Rhinos.

Leigh still sit eight points clear of Huddersfield with a fourth place finish for the 2022 Championship winners looking likely, whereas for Huddersfield their finishing spot could range from fifth to tenth.

If they’re to achieve a finish of fifth and playoff rugby league then they’ll likely have to win all four remaining games, starting tonight, but that was something Adrian Lam would be intent on stopping as he demanded a response from las week’s humiliating 52-10 loss to Hull KR.

As for the Giants they edged out Leeds Rhinos at Headingley drawing them level onto 20 points, four outside the playoffs with eight to play for, meaning that Ian Watson’s side are almost at a stage of four must win games.

The Giants changed their spine with Will Pryce moving to full back whilst Jake Connor paired Tui Lolohea in the halves following Olly Russell’s season ending hand injury.

As for the Leopards they have named their squad and Josh Charnley passes as fit after concerns over his fitness for the game with the Leopards naming a squad close to full strength, barring the long term injury to Ricky Leutele.

Adrian Lam got his reaction from last week’s loss almost immediately with Josh Charnley scoring after just six minutes to put the Leopards in the lead.

That lead lasted just under ten minute when Jake Connor showed fancy footwork to cross over and score, with Will Pryce’s conversion pushing the Giants in front 6-4.

It didn’t last long though with Charnley scoring his second just minutes later which saw him break John Woods’ club record for most tries in a season in the top division.

His wing partner then scored just after the half hour mark to make the lead 16-6 and put Huddersfield forty minutes away from surely facing no playoff rugby.

Jake Connor tried to fix that though as he scored his second of the game early in the second half to make it 16-12 but minutes later the floodlights failed at the Leigh Sports Village.