1999 Season Reports: June: LEIGH 72 DONCASTER 6

NFP RD 16: Leigh 72 Doncaster 6

By DAVE PARKINSON

Troubled Doncaster rolled into Leigh hoping to put the clubs problems behind them. By full time however, a polished attacking display from the Centurions had yielded 13 tries and a 72-6 defeat for the Dragons, their heaviest defeat at Leigh for almost 25 years.

Despite resistance from Lee Maher, Chris Watson and Tony Miller, the pattern for the afternoon was already etched after a blistering opening quarter saw the home side race into a 20-0 lead.

The Centurions began confidently and went over for the games first try after just three minutes when former Doncaster centre Ken Kerr put Alan Hadcroft over by the corner flag.

Nick Jenkins, making a rare first team start, scored Leigh's second try following a fumbled kick through.

Kerr then turned from try provider to scorer, crossing on his debut from a deft Kennedy pass. By the 17th minute, Leigh were rampant as Safraz Patel supported a Hadcroft burst down the left touchline.

Doncaster posted their only points of the game when Street had a try disallowed and a startling midfield break from stand-off Kieran Allen was supported by winger Craig Moore who touched down under the posts, Maher tagged on the conversion.

Further pressure from Leigh resulted in tries from Patel and James Arkwright, both goaled by Phil Kendrick to give the home side a 32-6 halftime lead.

Leigh started the second period sharply. Substitute Anthony Murray scored the first of his brace, scooting to the line after good build-up by Kendrick with just 6 minutes of the half gone. A 50th minute try from Ingram stretched an over worked defence after Maher was sinbinned for dissent and Leigh took full advantage with further tries from Kendrick (following a five man raid) and Andy Fairclough (from the scrum base).

Doncaster went close following a big kick and chase from a scrum but the Centurion cover defence held firm.

Leigh remained focused and were rewarded in the final ten minutes with a further three converted tries.

Arkwright capped a good display with his second try from a Murray pass on 71 minutes. Substitute Darren Hall (a potent strikeforce in amateur competition with 42 tries last season) started the move that led to Ingram going under the posts for his second while Murray had the final say as Arkwright's midfield break created space before the fullback repaid Murray with a well timed pass. Ingram added his third conversion to close the game and move Leigh back to second spot.
Leigh Centurions 72
Tries: (minutes in brackets)
Hadcroft (3), Jenkins (11), Kerr (14), Patel (17, 26), Arkwright (29, 71), Murray (46, 77), Ingram (50, 75), Kendrick (55), Fairclough (58)

Goals: Kendrick 7 (from 10), Ingram 3 (from 3).

Defeated

Doncaster Dragons 6
Tries: (minutes in brackets)
Moore (22)

Goals: Maher 1 (from 1).

Half-time: 32-6 to Leigh
Attendance: 1372 @ Hilton Park, Leigh.

Starmen
Leigh : Street: Despite being substituted on 62 minutes the rampaging runs and canny offloads of Leigh's power prop were too much for Doncaster to contain.

Cruckshank : The second row caused havoc out wide all afternoon.

Doncaster: Allen: The stand-off was the main thorn in Leigh's side, did his best to rally a tired looking team.

Miller: hardworking back row peformance from the Doncaster skipper.