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
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