Super League issue statement on abandoned clash between Leigh Leopards and Huddersfield Giants
The Round 24 clash was abandoned following floodlight failure - Credit: Huddersfield Giants
No decision will be made on the outcome of tonight’s abandoned clash between Leigh Leopards and Huddersfield Giants until tomorrow, as confirmed by Super League themselves.
On the night which saw hometown boy Frankie Halton make his return to the matchday squad, the Leopards were 16-12 up at the Leigh Sports Village when the floodlights failed, and a power cut unfolded in the 48th minute.
Players and officials were withdrawn from the field, initially for 10 minutes, with messages spread to supporters to remain in the ground while attempts were made to rectify the issue and get the power back on.
But circa 50 minutes later, at around 10pm, it was confirmed that the power wouldn’t be returning, and that the Round 24 clash had been abandoned.
Now, the next steps are ever so slightly clearer.
RFL issue statement on abandoned Super League clash
Calls had been made from supporters that Leigh should be awarded the points as they led at the time the lights went out.
Others were calling for Huddersfield to be handed the points given it was at Leigh’s home ground where the failure occurred.
Neither of those will happen as per the operational rules, the game will either be replayed in full or it will be restarted from the 48th minute.
In a short statement on their website, Super League themselves confirmed the decision won’t be made until tomorrow.
It read: “The Betfred Super League match between Leigh Leopards & Huddersfield Giants 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.”
Leigh and Huddersfield will have to go again
The most likely option is that the full game will be replayed, but either way, both the Leopards and the Giants will have to brace themselves for at least another 32 minutes of action.
With just three weeks left of the regular season, they’ll have to cram the re-arranged fixture in, and it’ll more than likely be in midweek.
It’s unlikely that Josh Charnley’s brace of tries this evening will count for anything now. He had broken John Woods’ club record for most top flight tries in a season. Zak Hardaker was also making his 350th career appearance, so that’s another moment likely to be erased from the history books.
Adrian Lam’s Leigh are currently scheduled to go to St Helens next Friday live in front of the Sky Sports cameras. They then face Wakefield Trinity and table toppers Wigan Warriors on home soil to end the year.
Meanwhile, Ian Watson’s Giants welcome Hull KR next Friday before travelling to Hull FC in Round 26. Their last game sees Warrington Wolves make the trip to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Both sides are still looking to secure play-off spots, and it’s anyone’s guess as to when this re-arranged clash will be pencilled into their respective diaries.