2006 Season Reports: LEIGH 36 HULL KR 10

LEIGH CENTURIONS 36
HULL KINGSTON ROVERS 10
By Dave Parkinson.

“The Leigh spirit is back.” enthused Centurions boss Tony Benson after watching his side win in professional style against Hull Kingston Rovers.

Leigh had to dig deep after Tere Glassie was forced to withdraw due to injury in the final warm-up. The late change saw Carl Forber start the game after originally being named as a substitute and Neil Roden, fresh from a good 80 minutes with the Senior Academy, moved to the bench.

In cementing this six-try success, Leigh Centurions ended the unbeaten National League One run of their visitors. Rover’s spirited mix of first team regulars, fringe players and loan recruits never let the Centurions have things all their own way and the visitors scored the first try of the game after just three minutes with debutant Kris Welham touching down.

That lead lasted just four minutes. Rovers were then penalised for a tackle on Robert Roberts. Leigh switched play cleverly and Michael Govin linked with James Taylor before looping round to send Scott Grix haring in by the corner flag for his 10th try of the season. Govin goaled from the touchline.

From their next set, Bryn Hargreaves broke the line but Govin saw his pass for Danny Halliwell sail into touch. Former Centurion Pat Weisner then failed to find touch from a penalty but Forber could not take advantage, losing the ball on impact in the next tackle.

Valiant try line defence from Rovers frustrated Leigh with James Garmston denying James Taylor and Govin in quick succession. Skipper Rowley went close next – held up over the line after 16 minutes.

Leigh took their chance and when Roberts was stopped by a combination of tackle and the posts, the next play brought six points when Govin cleverly ran an inside line off Heremaia to go over after 24 minutes.

With 28 minutes gone rampaging Dana Wilson was halted by Jon Fallon. The high challenge saw the Rovers prop sin-binned and Leigh kept up the pressure with a quick tap penalty. Following a drive, Heremaia then sold an outrageous dummy to dart over for a converted try.

At this stage the Robins were chasing shadows. Nimble feet saw fullback Grix dummy and shoott through a gaping hole, Forber supported to cross for a flowing try from 35 metres.

Once more Rovers went on the attack with Weisner threading a teasing kick through for Kris Welham to chase but the ball rolled dead.

Seconds from the interval Bryn Hargreaves who enjoyed a monster first half, saw a try ruled out and Leigh held a commanding 24-4 lead.

Rovers had to score first, but it was Leigh that made the better start, stretching their lead after 44 minutes - Heremaia belying his stature to bulldoze through from ten metres. Govin continued his 100% record with the boot and Leigh led 30-4.

Sixty seconds later Taylor ran forward and a horrific clash between Jason Netherton and Jon Fallon saw a lengthy stoppage before Fallon was carried from the field on a stretcher.

After the game resumed, both teams seemed affected with some nervous handling.

Greenwood saw a try disallowed after good linking between Ricky Bibey and Gareth Pemberton before Jon Whittle kicked forward for Kris Welham to chase. Heremaia had the kick covered but clattered into an advertising hoarding. The blow proved too much for the tough halfback to continue and he was replaced.

Neil Roden stepped up and his mix of pace and kicking almost caught Rovers napping before the Centurions were reduced to 12 men after 61 minutes when Govin was sin-binned for persistent grapple tackling after two previous warnings.

Rovers lost out on four points after Weisner broke, and French centre Couturier passed inside for Liam Welham only for a superb cover tackle on the line from Greenwood who chased 70 metres from the other side of the field to haul the youngster down.

Unfortunately, Greenwood held down in the tackle and was yellow carded. Despite being down to eleven men, Leigh responded brilliantly, firstly Halliwell chased to put Welham over the sidline. Then a smart move down the blindside involving Rowley and Grix was carried on by the winger; Halliwell cut inside and kicked over the head of Lee Gommersall. Only the final bounce denied Leigh and Weisner was on hand to kick the ball dead.

From the drop out, Leigh added their final try through powerhouse Wilson who charged through four tacklers on a devastating burst for the line.

There was still time for Joseph to pull a try back at the end. Couturier converted but Halliwell was unlucky in the final seconds when he got hands to Weisner’s flat pass but could not take the intercept cleanly. It was purely academic as Leigh moved back to second following Widnes shock defeat to Rochdale.

LEIGH
1 Scott Grix
2 Danny Halliwell
3 Carl Forber
4 Gareth Pemberton
5 Lee Greenwood
6 Michael Govin
7 Aaron Heremaia
8 Ricky Bibey
9 Paul Rowley
10 Bryn Hargreaves
11 James Taylor
12 Chris Hill
13 Robert Roberts
SUBS (All Used)
14 Gary Sykes
15 Neil Roden
16 Dana Wilson
17 Warren Stevens

Tries: Grix (7), Govin (24), Heremaia (29, 44), Forber (32), Wilson (71)
Goals: Govin 5/5, Roberts 1/1.
Sinbinned: Govin (61 – persistent grapple tackling), Greenwood (65 – holding down)
Dismissed:

HULL KR
1 Leroy Rivett
2 Liam Welham
3 Damien Couturier
4 Jon Whittle
5 Kris Welham
6 Phil Joseph
7 Matty Brooks
8 James Garmston
9 Andy Ellis
10 Jon Fallon
11 Kirk Netherton
12 Dwayne Barker
13 Pat Weisner
SUBS (All Used)
14 Lee Gommersall
15 Jon Steel
16 Dave Wilson
17 Jason Netherton

Tries: Kris Welham (3), Joseph (75)
Goals: Couturier 1/2.
Sinbinned: Fallon (28 – high tackle)
Dismissed:

Referee: Ben Thaler
Penalties: 15-10
GLDO: 0-2
Attendance: 2,810.
Halftime Score: 24-4

Progressive Score:
0-4; 6-4; 12-4; 18-4; 24-4; 30-4; 36-4; 36-10.