NFP Rd 21 LEIGH CENTURIONS 34 ROCHDALE HORNETS 20
By Dave Parkinson
A sunbaked crowd saw a sparkling first half of attacking rugby that set Leigh on their way before a spirited Hornets lifted their game in the second half.
18 year old hooker Mike Higham, making his first start for the Centurions and Paul Anderson, a recent loan recruit from Sheffield contributed fully to the game with a try apiece.
The Centurions made a slow start, falling behind to an early penalty from Rochdale halfback Winrow.
Within minutes Leigh went in front when Keiron Purtill sent David Whittle over from a tap-penalty. Phil Kendrick converted before another penalty from Winrow reduced the arrears to just two points.
A neat move down the right wing by former Salford centre Coussons put Eyres clear, only for a tackle by Stuart Donlan and Alan Hadcroft to put the winger over the sideline. From the scrum Leigh worked the ball wide. With the defence still unsettled Higham fed Heath Cruckshank who charged 40 metres and offloaded for Kendrick to outpace the cover and cross by the posts.
Surprisingly, Kendrick missed the kick.
10-4 quickly became 22-4 as Higham ended a freeflowing move and Anderson showed his speed following smart distribution from Radney Bowker.
Hornets almost registered tries when Bunce was bundled out of play in the corner and his impressive centre Cooper was pulled back for a forward pass in another move.
Just before half-time, Rochdale were reduced to 12 men when full-back Bradbury was sinbinned for holding down. Leigh spurned the opportunity of two points and switched play right before Purtill took the ball down the left and Bowker's swerve opened the visitors defence. Kendrick converted and Leigh were cruising at 28-4.
Rochdale started the second half well with prominent charges from Matty Knowles and Danny Sculthorpe before Aston punished slack defence from a tap penalty.
Leigh seemed flat after the double halftime substitution of Higham and Purtill.
The Hornets continued to press, Bunce was again denied by a forward pass while at the other end Donlan had a similar effort disqualified after an inside pass by Murray.
It was left to home skipper, Jamie Kennedy, an industrious performer, to put the result beyond doubt, taking a great pass from Safraz Patel to stride over.
Kendrick added his 5th goal of the game before a late charge from the Hornets resulted in tries to substitute Hudson and hardworking scrum half Kelly.
This result helped Leigh move into 2nd spot again following Hull KR's defeat of Hunslet.
Leigh Centurions: 34
Tries: Whittle, Kendrick, Higham, Anderson, Bowker, Kennedy.
Goals: Kendrick 5 (from 6).
Backs: Donlan, Ingram, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Arkwright.
Halfbacks: Bowker, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Higham, Whittle, Anderson, Cruickshank, Kennedy
Subs: Murray, Halliwell, Patel, Pucill
Defeated
Rochdale Hornets: 20
Tries: Aston, Hudson, Kelly
Goals: Winrow 4 (from 5).
Backs: Bradbury, Eyres, Coussons, Cooper, Bunce
Halfbacks: Winrow, Kelly
Forwards: Knowles, Stephenson, Sculthorpe, Aston, McKinney, Newell.
Subs: Hudson, Marsh, Coult, Robinson.
Attendance: 1568 @ Hilton Park, Leigh.
Gamestars:
Leigh: Kennedy / Higham - Loose Forward / Hooker
Rochdale: Knowles / Cooper - Prop / Centre
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