LEIGH CENTURIONS 32 SHEFFIELD EAGLES 0
By Dave Parkinson
“Defence wins games” the old Australian coaching manual says, and Leigh for the first time this season were completely watertight, even if the conditions weren’t!
The game started as a heavy downpour reached its peak, and the already saturated pitch was exposed to more wear and tear as the game went on. Leigh knocked on straight from the kick-off but managed to hold off a spirited first raid from the Eagles.
It got better for the Centurions, much better eventually, but for the opening 25 minutes no one troubled the scoreboard. For the main part, Leigh were content to play out their possession, showing plenty of patience while Sheffield battered away.
Simon Svabic missed an early penalty before making amends after Paul Rowley had forced an offside player into a tackle. 2-0 quickly moved onto 8-0 when Rowley supported a fine midfield break to cross under the posts.
The Centurions were on top and Willie Swann scored a fine individual try from a scrum inside his own half. The Samoan international bounced out of one tackle and somehow held off three would-be chasers in a thrilling 60-metre sprint.
Jon Roper was next on the scoresheet. Leigh spread play across the face of the posts after the visitors played at a kick through on the last tackle; Roper was the extra man to cross wide out. Svabic couldn’t convert but the Centurions went in at half-time with a handy 18-0 lead.
When Sheffield were penalised for offside moments after the resumption, Svabic added his fourth goal to increase the lead to twenty points.
The Eagles hit back, forcing a number of drop-outs from the home side, yet try as they might, they couldn’t break down a superb rearguard.
Leigh continued to play a patient; steady game and eventually, Sheffield cracked again when Phil Kendrick burst over. Trailing by 26 points there was to be no comeback for the Eagles. The hosts slipped up a gear and only a good chase back by the defence prevented a try to Svabic.
Leigh finished the game on high when a set move from a scrum saw John Duffy unleash Kendrick over 30 metres. The centre raced over almost untouched for Svabic to complete scoring with his 6th successful goal.
Leigh: Simon Svabic (6G), Chris Irwin, Phil Kendrick (2T), Jon Roper (T), Mark McCulley, John Duffy, Willie Swann (T); Dave Whittle, Paul Rowley (T), Dave Bradbury, Simon Baldwin, Chris Morley, Adam Bristow.
Andrew Isherwood, Gareth Price, Rob Ball, Vila Matautia.
Attendance: 1,377 @ Hilton Park
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