Hull KR 18
Leigh Centurions 22
Dave Parkinson from Bloomfield Road.
It was a case of Grix and determination in the Blackpool sun as Leigh went to the seaside, and came back with the Northern Rail Cup following an unstinting defensive effort.
Back in February, Leigh began their season at Bloomfield Road and it was somewhat ironic that they should return, claim the first piece of National League silverware and end a 24-match unbeaten run from Hull Kingston Rovers.
Key to their victory was a magnificent performance from fullback Scott Grix and the often unheralded work of forwards Ricky Bibey, Paul Rowley, Dana Wilson, Tere Glassie, Chris Hill, Robert Roberts, James Taylor and Warren Stevens.
Despite arriving in the Blackpool cauldron with a couple of niggling injuries, Leigh took the lead after 9 minutes after Rovers had been pinned deep in their quarter by Aaron Heremaia’s kicking. Robins fullback Ben Cockayne then charged into the tackling Heremaia and up stepped Mick Govin to strike the penalty home via the post.
That lead lasted just five minutes as Rovers clinically marched downfield, inspired by former Leigh winger Leroy Rivett who spun away from two tacklers on a brave kick return. Rovers then moved the ball quickly and accurately through several pairs of hands for Jon Goddard to support Byron Ford and race away from a despairing Dean Gaskell. Gareth Morton tagged on the conversion. Rovers then saw a chance frittered away by French centre Damien Couturier but Morton was back in the kicking groove after 21 minutes when Ford was awarded a try by the video referee following an awful pass from Adam Hughes.
There was some contention to the score as former Leeds junior Tommy Gallagher appeared to deliberately knock the ball out of the arms of James Taylor in the build-up.
Typically, Taylor put that behind him and alongside Glassie and Roberts was one of the key figures in turning the Centurions defence around. The changes only began to take place after 25 minutes and by that time; Rovers had claimed another try when Ben Fisher, Dwayne Barker and Scott Murrell worked an opening for Cockayne to race through for his 22nd try of the season. Morton missed the kick but even the most optimistic of Leigh fans were questioning whether the Centurions could reply from a 16-2 deficit.
The answer came from the team; an emphatic yes!
With the ante upped in defence, Leigh restricted Rovers to a 30 metre gain on their next set and hurried Murrell into the kick.
What happened next was sheer poetry.
Grix took possession and passed to Lee Greenwood before looping for the return. He then stepped on the inside and raced into the hole. With Rowley on his inside, Grix cleverly drew 3 defenders and sent the captain haring under the posts from 40 metres. Govin converted before an almighty mix-up between Rivett and Cockayne saw Grix chase through his own kick, collect and dive in at the corner.
With all the pressure on their line, Hull KR wilted and Leigh went close through Hughes and Heremaia before turning over possession. Enthusiastic tackling from Roberts then trapped Iain Morrison in-goal and the Centurions laid the platform for a third try. Tere Glassie was the scorer as he showed good strength to go over despite having 3 defenders clinging to him. Referee Jamie Leahy referred the decision upstairs and after an agonising wait benefit of doubt went with the Cook Island international.
It meant that the teams headed to the break all square, 16-16 with the prospect of another intriguing half ahead.
The first ten minutes of the second half saw Leigh camp on the Rovers line where the commitment in the tackle was excellent. The Centurions had the first scoring opportunity of the new half when Glassie got Adam Hughes in a great position and the centre thundered down the wing for the second time in the game. Unfortunately Hughes was injured in the move and had to be replaced.
Rovers then launched the ball into the Centurions 20’ and two tackles later Gaskell lost the ball after a typically brave run in midfield that saw him bounce off three tacklers including Robins favourite Makali Aizue.
Leigh then conceded a penalty for offside and the tall Morton slotted his third goal over the bar to give the Rovers an 18-16 lead.
The chase from the kick-off and defence was good again and it wasn’t long before the Centurions turned this into possession. Unfortunately Grix couldn’t take Bibeys one handed offload and instead took a crunching tackle from Murrell.
Aggressive running from Danny Halliwell three minutes later bought the Centurions a penalty and they pushed forward to score a decisive try on the hour. Rock-like Dana Wilson was the scorer, taking an inside passes from Heremaia at pace before touching down from close range. Govin added his third goal and it was 22-18.
Cue the drama.
Seeing their long unbeaten run slipping in front of them, Rovers became increasingly desperate. A 65th minute opportunity went to ground from Goddard when the centre knocked on following Govin’s unsuccessful intercept and the Robins came forward again four minutes later. A lofted kick from Murrell was knocked inside by Ford but Morrison couldn’t collect with the line wide open.
Leigh returned to the basics that had served them so well and when Ford fumbled Halliwell’s hammered kick downfield, the kick chase got their man. Rovers made good ground and a threatening attack saw man-of-the-match Grix save a try with an all or nothing tackle on Cockayne. Couturier thought that he’d scored an all important try seconds later when Murrell flicked the ball out of a tackle. Again the decision went to video referee Bob Connolly who ruled that the tackle on Murrell had been completed and awarded a hand-over to the Centurions.
This all but ended Rovers challenge as Leigh wound the clock down to claim victory in an error-strewn yet compelling final that had every one of the 7,547 crowd on the edge of their seats.
Hull KR:
1 Ben Cockayne
2 Leroy Rivett
3 Damien Couturier
4 Jon Goddard
5 Byron Ford
6 Tommy Gallagher
7 Scott Murrell
8 Makali Aizue
9 Ben Fisher
10 David Tangata-Toa
11 Iain Morrison
12 Gareth Morton
13 Dwayne Barker
14 Francis Stephenson
15 Andy Ellis
16 Gareth Price
17 Michael Smith
Tries: Goddard (14), Ford (20), Cockayne (25)
Goals: Morton 3/4
Leigh Centurions
1 Scott Grix
2 Dean Gaskell
3 Adam Hughes
4 Danny Halliwell
5 Lee Greenwood
6 Mick Govin
7 Aaron Heremaia
8 Ricky Bibey
9 Paul Rowley
10 Dana Wilson
11 Chris Hill
12 Tere Glassie
13 Robert Roberts
14 Carl Forber
15 Danny Speakman
16 James Taylor
17 Warren Stevens
Tries: Rowley (28), Grix (31), Glassie (38), Wilson (60).
Goals: Govin 3/5.
Progressive Score:
0-2; 6-2; 12-2; 16-2; 16-8; 16-12; 16-16; 18-16; 18-22.
Referee: Jamie Leahy
Penalties: 6-6
Attendance: 7,547
Thursday 14 January 2010
Sunday 10 January 2010
1999 Season Reports: August: LEIGH CENTURIONS 32 LANCASHIRE LYNX 20
NFP RD 26: LEIGH CENTURIONS 32 LANCASHIRE LYNX 20
By Dave Parkinson
Leigh took top spot in the Northern Ford Premiership for the first time this year with a hard fought victory over a brave Lancashire Lynx outfit.
Led from the front by halfbacks Alexander and Flanagan, Lynx were never far away and Leigh had to rely on three touchdowns in the final quarter to seal their win.
Early on there was little to choose between the sides as both packs cancelled each other out. Leigh lost captain Jamie Kennedy after just 3 minutes when the second-row damaged an ankle while tackling Horton.
Graeme Close, signed earlier in the week from Workington Town, tried to spark Leigh's attack but his team mates didn't make the best of his lively running and Lynx hit back when Flanagan hit a 40-20 kick.
Lancashire had their best spell moments after Heath Cruckshank was sin-binned for obstruction on Parsley. Alexander tagged on a penalty and scored the game's first try after 25 minutes with an individual effort.
Eleven minutes later, Stuart Donlan dragged Leigh back into the game with a ghosting run, Anthony Murray supported on his inside and Leigh were level with Paul Wingfield's first goal of the afternoon.
Close then went 40 metres from the scrum before a flying tackle prevented the halfback scoring on his debut. Not to be outdone, Leigh put the ball wide and Ken Kerr finished a four pass movement, making up for an earlier spillage with the line beckoning.
Six minutes into first half stoppage time, Donlan was felled by a "dangerous throw" that was missed by the officials. Momentarily dazed, Donlan passed the ball to Purtill without making an attempt to play it. Referee Shaw harshly chose to penalise the fullback and Alexander kicked the points to a crescendo of boos and jeers.
The first 10 minutes of the second half followed much the same pattern as Lynx pack again went toe-to-toe with the Leigh six. Hard working Solomon and Walsh were prominent but they were equalled in the Leigh pack by Tim Street.
Murray grew in stature as the game wore on, controlling the play-the-ball area and repeatedly asking questions of the Lynx defence.
It was from one of these typical bursts that Leigh stretched their lead to 6 points when Murray's pass was intercepted by a Lynx defender in an offside position and Wingfield converted the penalty.
Lynx reply came quickly when a 70-metre move ended with former Wakefield and Oldham winger Dave Jones crossing on the hour. Alexander's conversion tied the scores.
Leigh had to win this game again, and set about their task with relish as Lynx tried to slow it down. Cruckshank capitalised on good approach play by Murray, Close and Keiron Purtill to score by the posts and give Wingfield an easy goal.
Wingfield had his sights set again eight minutes later, striking another penalty after a high tackle on Cruckshank.
Until the final quarter, Keiron Purtill was having a quiet afternoon, allowing his new half-back partner to dictate, but he stamped his authority on the game with the final two tries. Sandwiched between these, "Doc" Murray kept Leigh on their toes with an opportunist score, but it turned out to be little more than consolation as the home sides superior teamwork won through.
Leigh Centurions: 32
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Kendrick, Kerr, Ingram
Half-backs: Purtill, Close
Forwards: Street, Anthony Murray, Whittle, Cruickshank, Kennedy, Fairclough
Substitutes: Halliwell, Norman, Pucill, Higham
Tries: Murray (36), Kerr (40), Cruickshank (64), Purtill (74, 83)
Goals: Wingfield 6 (from 7).
Defeated
Lancashire Lynx: 20
Threequarters: Parsley, Ratcliffe,"Doc" Murray, Abram, Jones
Half-backs: Alexander, Flannagan
Forwards: Horton, Bennett, Prest, Solomon, Walsh, Hodgkinson
Substitutes: Roberts, Geritas, Fisher, Gee
Tries: Alexander (25), Jones (60), Murray (78)
Goals: Alexander 4 (from 5).
Halftime: 12-8 to Leigh.
Full-time: 32-20 to Leigh.
Attendance: 1,846 @ Hilton Park, Leigh
Gamestars:
Leigh: Murray / Close - Hooker / Scrum-half
Lynx: Alexander / Flannagan - Stand-off / Scrum-half
By Dave Parkinson
Leigh took top spot in the Northern Ford Premiership for the first time this year with a hard fought victory over a brave Lancashire Lynx outfit.
Led from the front by halfbacks Alexander and Flanagan, Lynx were never far away and Leigh had to rely on three touchdowns in the final quarter to seal their win.
Early on there was little to choose between the sides as both packs cancelled each other out. Leigh lost captain Jamie Kennedy after just 3 minutes when the second-row damaged an ankle while tackling Horton.
Graeme Close, signed earlier in the week from Workington Town, tried to spark Leigh's attack but his team mates didn't make the best of his lively running and Lynx hit back when Flanagan hit a 40-20 kick.
Lancashire had their best spell moments after Heath Cruckshank was sin-binned for obstruction on Parsley. Alexander tagged on a penalty and scored the game's first try after 25 minutes with an individual effort.
Eleven minutes later, Stuart Donlan dragged Leigh back into the game with a ghosting run, Anthony Murray supported on his inside and Leigh were level with Paul Wingfield's first goal of the afternoon.
Close then went 40 metres from the scrum before a flying tackle prevented the halfback scoring on his debut. Not to be outdone, Leigh put the ball wide and Ken Kerr finished a four pass movement, making up for an earlier spillage with the line beckoning.
Six minutes into first half stoppage time, Donlan was felled by a "dangerous throw" that was missed by the officials. Momentarily dazed, Donlan passed the ball to Purtill without making an attempt to play it. Referee Shaw harshly chose to penalise the fullback and Alexander kicked the points to a crescendo of boos and jeers.
The first 10 minutes of the second half followed much the same pattern as Lynx pack again went toe-to-toe with the Leigh six. Hard working Solomon and Walsh were prominent but they were equalled in the Leigh pack by Tim Street.
Murray grew in stature as the game wore on, controlling the play-the-ball area and repeatedly asking questions of the Lynx defence.
It was from one of these typical bursts that Leigh stretched their lead to 6 points when Murray's pass was intercepted by a Lynx defender in an offside position and Wingfield converted the penalty.
Lynx reply came quickly when a 70-metre move ended with former Wakefield and Oldham winger Dave Jones crossing on the hour. Alexander's conversion tied the scores.
Leigh had to win this game again, and set about their task with relish as Lynx tried to slow it down. Cruckshank capitalised on good approach play by Murray, Close and Keiron Purtill to score by the posts and give Wingfield an easy goal.
Wingfield had his sights set again eight minutes later, striking another penalty after a high tackle on Cruckshank.
Until the final quarter, Keiron Purtill was having a quiet afternoon, allowing his new half-back partner to dictate, but he stamped his authority on the game with the final two tries. Sandwiched between these, "Doc" Murray kept Leigh on their toes with an opportunist score, but it turned out to be little more than consolation as the home sides superior teamwork won through.
Leigh Centurions: 32
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Kendrick, Kerr, Ingram
Half-backs: Purtill, Close
Forwards: Street, Anthony Murray, Whittle, Cruickshank, Kennedy, Fairclough
Substitutes: Halliwell, Norman, Pucill, Higham
Tries: Murray (36), Kerr (40), Cruickshank (64), Purtill (74, 83)
Goals: Wingfield 6 (from 7).
Defeated
Lancashire Lynx: 20
Threequarters: Parsley, Ratcliffe,"Doc" Murray, Abram, Jones
Half-backs: Alexander, Flannagan
Forwards: Horton, Bennett, Prest, Solomon, Walsh, Hodgkinson
Substitutes: Roberts, Geritas, Fisher, Gee
Tries: Alexander (25), Jones (60), Murray (78)
Goals: Alexander 4 (from 5).
Halftime: 12-8 to Leigh.
Full-time: 32-20 to Leigh.
Attendance: 1,846 @ Hilton Park, Leigh
Gamestars:
Leigh: Murray / Close - Hooker / Scrum-half
Lynx: Alexander / Flannagan - Stand-off / Scrum-half
1999 Season Reports: August: LEIGH CENTURIONS 66 OLDHAM 6
NFP RD 25 LEIGH 66 OLDHAM 6
By Dave Parkinson
Leigh put their narrow defeat at Widnes behind them and returned to form with a resounding 12 try victory over struggling Oldham.
Anthony Murray, recalled at hooker after completing a three game suspension had an excellent game, crossing for a try hat-trick and he was instrumental in many of Leigh's best moves.
Following a disjointed opening by both teams, Murray stamped his authority on the game after 12 minutes with a forty metre sprint from dummy-half.
Paul Wingfield added the first of his 9 goal haul, but Oldham hit straight back when Brown and Leuila opened the defence and speedy centre Mead set sail for the line.
The flying Oldham back was tracked down by Stuart Donlan who pulled off a copybook tackle to put Mead into touch a metre from the line.
Returning captain Andy Fairclough split the defence in the 19th minute, putting Kennedy over for the games second try before Leigh hit injury problems.
Jamie Kennedy was forced off with a shoulder injury and James Arkwright was carried off after an innocuous looking tackle.
The rugged visiting pack tried to get the better of their opponents and succeeded in temporarily knocking them off their game with Round, Nadiole and Perrett in the thick of things.
Sandwiched between tries from Wingfield and Fairclough, Stuart Donlan set Hilton Park alight with an electrifying break that left a host of defenders in his wake but Leuila and Mead combined to haul the fullback into touch just of a deserved short.
With stand-off Webster in the sinbin for disputing Fairclough's first try, Oldham's task was made almost impossible as Leigh romped over for 3 tries in his absence.
Murray added his second try before halftime for a 28-0 scoreline and Phil Kendrick and Fairclough extended the score to forty points. Those early second-half tries for Leigh proved how costly a sinbinning can be.
In previous games, Leigh could be accused of slowing down, but for Oldham there was no respite.
Kendrick crashed over for his second try and was quickly followed by Ken Kerr, finishing a move started by Keiron Purtill.
Brown tried a short kick-off that forced a mistake. From the resulting scrum, Oldham worked the ball wide for Mead to display his pace and brush past Donlan in a try scoring run. Brown added the conversion and Oldham's loyal band of supporters finally had something to cheer.
Murray replied in typical fashion on the hour with his third, before Donlan grabbed a deserved try, supporting Ingram's break from the scrum.
Leigh's final try came 13 minutes from time when Andy Pucill and Fairclough
created the opening and substitute Mick Higham nipped over to end another fruitless day for the Roughyeds.
Leigh Centurions: 66
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Kendrick, Kerr, Halliwell
Halfbacks: Arkwright, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Murray, Whittle, Cruickshank, Kennedy, Fairclough
Substitutes: Pucill, Ingram, Norman, Higham.
Tries: (Mins in Brackets)
Murray (12, 40, 60), Kennedy (19), Wingfield (28), Fairclough (39, 43), Kendrick (41, 50), Kerr (54), Donlan (63), Higham (67).
Goals: Wingfield 9 (from 12)
Defeated
Oldham: 6
Threequarters: Leuila, Brassington, Meade, Jackman, McNicholas
Halfbacks: Webster, Brown
Forwards: Casey, Hough, Clegg, Round, Nadiole, Perrett
Substitutes: Crook, Brennan, Guest, Peralta.
Tries: (Mins in Brackets)
Meade (56)
Goals: Brown 1 (from 1)
Halftime: 28-0 to Leigh
Attendance: 1691 @ Hilton Park, Leigh.
Game Stars:
Leigh: Murray / Donlan - Hooker / Full-back
Oldham: Meade / Webster - Centre / Stand-off
By Dave Parkinson
Leigh put their narrow defeat at Widnes behind them and returned to form with a resounding 12 try victory over struggling Oldham.
Anthony Murray, recalled at hooker after completing a three game suspension had an excellent game, crossing for a try hat-trick and he was instrumental in many of Leigh's best moves.
Following a disjointed opening by both teams, Murray stamped his authority on the game after 12 minutes with a forty metre sprint from dummy-half.
Paul Wingfield added the first of his 9 goal haul, but Oldham hit straight back when Brown and Leuila opened the defence and speedy centre Mead set sail for the line.
The flying Oldham back was tracked down by Stuart Donlan who pulled off a copybook tackle to put Mead into touch a metre from the line.
Returning captain Andy Fairclough split the defence in the 19th minute, putting Kennedy over for the games second try before Leigh hit injury problems.
Jamie Kennedy was forced off with a shoulder injury and James Arkwright was carried off after an innocuous looking tackle.
The rugged visiting pack tried to get the better of their opponents and succeeded in temporarily knocking them off their game with Round, Nadiole and Perrett in the thick of things.
Sandwiched between tries from Wingfield and Fairclough, Stuart Donlan set Hilton Park alight with an electrifying break that left a host of defenders in his wake but Leuila and Mead combined to haul the fullback into touch just of a deserved short.
With stand-off Webster in the sinbin for disputing Fairclough's first try, Oldham's task was made almost impossible as Leigh romped over for 3 tries in his absence.
Murray added his second try before halftime for a 28-0 scoreline and Phil Kendrick and Fairclough extended the score to forty points. Those early second-half tries for Leigh proved how costly a sinbinning can be.
In previous games, Leigh could be accused of slowing down, but for Oldham there was no respite.
Kendrick crashed over for his second try and was quickly followed by Ken Kerr, finishing a move started by Keiron Purtill.
Brown tried a short kick-off that forced a mistake. From the resulting scrum, Oldham worked the ball wide for Mead to display his pace and brush past Donlan in a try scoring run. Brown added the conversion and Oldham's loyal band of supporters finally had something to cheer.
Murray replied in typical fashion on the hour with his third, before Donlan grabbed a deserved try, supporting Ingram's break from the scrum.
Leigh's final try came 13 minutes from time when Andy Pucill and Fairclough
created the opening and substitute Mick Higham nipped over to end another fruitless day for the Roughyeds.
Leigh Centurions: 66
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Kendrick, Kerr, Halliwell
Halfbacks: Arkwright, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Murray, Whittle, Cruickshank, Kennedy, Fairclough
Substitutes: Pucill, Ingram, Norman, Higham.
Tries: (Mins in Brackets)
Murray (12, 40, 60), Kennedy (19), Wingfield (28), Fairclough (39, 43), Kendrick (41, 50), Kerr (54), Donlan (63), Higham (67).
Goals: Wingfield 9 (from 12)
Defeated
Oldham: 6
Threequarters: Leuila, Brassington, Meade, Jackman, McNicholas
Halfbacks: Webster, Brown
Forwards: Casey, Hough, Clegg, Round, Nadiole, Perrett
Substitutes: Crook, Brennan, Guest, Peralta.
Tries: (Mins in Brackets)
Meade (56)
Goals: Brown 1 (from 1)
Halftime: 28-0 to Leigh
Attendance: 1691 @ Hilton Park, Leigh.
Game Stars:
Leigh: Murray / Donlan - Hooker / Full-back
Oldham: Meade / Webster - Centre / Stand-off
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