1998 Season Reports: LEIGH 44 HUNSLET WARRIORS 4

Centurions 44 - 4 Hunslet Warriors


Challenge Cup Round 3

Leigh opened their 1998 campaign with a comfortable nine try victory over the part timers from Hunslet. Although a scoreline of 44-4 tells its own story, Leigh's display was far from convincing and Latham's positional changes were not totally successful. There were however big games in the engine room and from Tau Liku and Andy Pucill in particular.

Leigh made their early territorial advantage count when the alert Jenkins spotted slack marker play. He exposed the fault to full effect from 3 metres for an unconverted try on 11 minutes.

The plucky Warriors posted their only (but best) score of the day when big centre Herbie Moore saw an opening and sliced through from 50 metres. Despite the desperate attempts of the cover, Moore had enough sense and awareness to draw Donlan and send his winger over in the right corner. Warriors missed the conversion but Hunslet fans could sense a possible upset and gave their full vocal support to the cause.

Centurion fans needn't have worried. Possession in the Warriors red-zone put pressure on the amateur defence and a predatory Ingram lunged to the line. Wilkinson converted and the Centurions were again in the driving seat. Moments later the score was 14-4 to Leigh when Street found himself with enough room to burrow over in the left corner.

Hunslet tired as the half wore on and seemed unable to answer an increasingly dominant pack. This was emphasized when a rampant Liku crashed in for two near identical efforts to increase the score to 22-4 at the interval.

Play became scrappy after the restart as determined warriors shored up their defence with fierce tackling. This was working before debutant Aussie, Garces worked an opening with Ingram for Barry Burgess to slide in at the corner. Wilkinson added the conversion before being substituted after his seven attempts on goal resulted in 2 successes.

Jason O'Loughlin was introduced for his 100th first grade appearance and Leigh adopted a more adventurous style. Centurions forced the ball wide at every opportunity but a combination of average passing, poor handling and stout defence saw Leigh squander numerous opportunities before Pucill blasted through from 20 metres. Deputy kicker O'Loughlin managed to convert and Leigh led 34-4.
As the game entered a final 10 minute phase, Latham introduced Scott Hilton to the fray, his introduction made Leigh look more balanced. Hunslet again wilted and were powerless to stop Leigh adding two further tries. Hilton scored on 73 minutes, touching down after an O'Loughlin bomb was fumbled behind his line by warriors fullback. A minute before time Fairclough's break over 40 metres was supported by Mark Burrows for the 18-year-old to claim his first senior try. Despite an unconvincing display, hopes were high for the visit to Hull KR.