Leigh deliver the perfect birthday present to owner Derek Beaumont

Drew Darbyshire
Josh Charnley Leigh Leopards Derek Beaumont SWpix

Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix

Leigh coach Adrian Lam paid tribute to Derek Beaumont after the Leopards stunned champions St Helens on the club owner’s birthday.

Friday was another night of entertainment at the Leigh Sports Village, with the impressive Leopards scoring 20 unanswered points in the second half to seal a 20-12 win over the world champions after a music set from 80s chart-toppers T’Pau.

“Its his birthday so we all bought him a present yesterday (Thursday), a bit of brandy for him!” a delighted Lam said after the game.

“He is doing an amazing job here with the club – both financially and the other side of rugby league. When you see the IMG details that came out during the week about where you need to be with the system they’ve got in place – I think we tick a lot of those boxes here.

“To have a venue and facilities like we’ve got… I don’t know any stadium in the UK that would have been buzzing like that was in the last 20 minutes of the game.

“It was just amazing to be a part of and I’m very grateful to the fans for being so vocal like that. Credit to St Helens as well, who brought 3,500 fans which is exactly what needs to happen with us in terms of bigger numbers at the club.”

REPORT: Leigh 20-12 St Helens: Five takeaways as Leopards stun the world champions

Derek Beaumont helps Leigh put on a show

In their first home game back in Super League in Round One, Leigh had indie pop band Scouting for Girls and The Fuel Girls perform ahead of their game against Salford.

And they backed it up with another blockbuster in their second home match, with T’Pau playing hits such as China In Your Hand and Heart and Soul.

Lam also praised Beaumont and the club for what they are doing with their matchday experience.

The Leigh coach said: “When I park my car and walk into here it feels like I’m going to an event.

“People are going to laugh at this but the leopard print at the front and the entertainment, it is an event that people are talking about every week.

“Credit to Derek on that, it is set up really good for everyone in the town to come. Hopefully the crowds will keep getting bigger and bigger.”

Adrian Lam: Our forward pack were awesome

The Leopards boss struggled to single out an individual for man of the match against Saints, but heaped praise on his middle unit.

He said: “I thought they were all really good. I thought our forward pack was awesome, that’s their best game together as a middle.

“I thought John Asiata was very good, Lokie Lam did some really good stuff and Josh Charnley was very good.

“It was just a great moment for the club and the town. Considering we had eight new faces for us in Round One, it is nice to see us get that tough win like we did today and that will hopefully bing them closer together as we go along.

“I’m pleased for the town, the entertainment was one thing off the pitch but we got the rugby right tonight as well so it was a really good thing.

“Its going to take 10 weeks for us to play our best rugby so to get a win like that at this time of the season is a real handy one for us. I thought we played tough, thats what you have got to be against St Helens and the top four clubs. Our forward pack were awesome tonight.”

The Leopards are currently sixth in the Super League table after winning two from four.

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