Match Reports about Leigh Centurions since 1998

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Friday 8 January 2010

1999 Season Reports: May: HUNSLET HAWKS 35 LEIGH CENTURIONS 12

HUNSLET HAWKS 35 LEIGH CENTURIONS 12

By DAVE PARKINSON

Hunslet Hawks closed the gap on the top three to just two points with an important victory over Leigh Centurions at the South Leeds Stadium.

In their 10th home League game of the season, the hosts outplayed their visitors with a near perfect pressure performance before an 11 minute purple patch yeilded four killer tries.

The first half was a tense affair with the Hawks settling quickly into the game. Leigh made little impact in the first twenty minutes as Hunslet pinned the Centurions in their own half and twice missed penalties before the introduction of former Hull KR stalwart Mike Fletcher.

Inventive play from scrum-half Latham Tawhai almost led to two tries but last ditch tackling just prevented the Hawks from taking the lead.

Leigh had chances to register their first points when Fairclough made the visitors only line break of the half and full back Butch Fatnowna was penalised for holding the Leigh skipper down. Unfortunately Paul Wingfield sliced his penalty attempt wide.

Hunslet hit back when second row Rob Wilson caused havoc on the left, combining with Rob D'Arcy to send Richard Baker into a yawning gap. James Arkwright was caught in two minds and Baker chipped the Leigh fullback before winning the race to the bouncing ball thus making the conversion easy for Fletcher.

A 36th minute mass brawl saw Keiron Purtill and Tawhai warned of their conduct and from the resulting penalty, Hunslet gave Fletcher opportunity of a field goal to stretch the Hawks lead to 7 points.

Within seven minutes of the restart Hunslet went 13-0 up when D'Arcy's towering midfield bomb was retained and home captain Shaun Irwin put Chris North over for a Fletcher converted score.

Leigh hit back in the 52nd minute when returning substitute Phil Kendrick somehow held a Tim Street pass to waltz over.

Hunslet gained possession from the restart when Fletcher's deep kick took a wicked bounce over winger Mark Burrows head. Last ditch defence again looked to have saved Leigh but 18 consecutive tackles finally saw prop James Walker force his way in from close range for a converted score.

Three minutes later, fellow prop Steve Pryce added to Leigh's woes with a blockbusting 15 metre charge past Jamie Kennedy and Anthony Murray.

By this time the visitors were on the backfoot and Hunslet twice exposed the inexperience of Burrows as D'Arcy and Irwin both crossed for a matchwinning 33-6 lead. Fletcher added another penalty before Leigh gained some consolation when substitute Safraz Patel put Kendrick over for his second try of the game.

Hunslet Hawks - 35
Tries: (mins in brackets)
Baker (30), North (47), Walker (56), Pryce (60), D'Arcy (62), Irwin (67)
Goals: Fletcher 5 (from 7), Walker 0 (from 1), Ross 0 (from 1)
Field Goal: Fletcher 1.

Defeated

Leigh Centurions - 12
Tries: (mins in brackets)
Kendrick (52, 74)
Goals: Wingfield 1 (from 3), Kendrick 1 (from 1).

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