2006 Season Reports: Pre-season Friendly: LEIGH 6 WIGAN 34

LEIGH CENTURIONS 6
WIGAN WARRIORS 34
Dave Parkinson from the Coliseum.

A quality performance from Sean O’Loughlin was the highlight of this first hit-out from the Warriors. The Wigan skipper returned from a 10 month injury lay-off to stamp his authority on a keenly contested local derby with Leigh Centurions.

“He was absolutely outstanding” Wigan boss Ian Milward enthused over O’Loughlin’s contribution. “The best player on the field” he continued, “to do what he did, considering the amount of time he’s been out was very encouraging for the team and the town. For me he was the big player of the night”.

By no means was this a one man show from the Warriors. Scott Logan, Ieafa Paleaaesina and Bryn Hargreaves toiled hard in midfield for Micky Higham and Wayne Godwin to control the play-the-ball and there were also supporting roles from Danny Orr and Danny Tickle.

The Centurions also played full part in proceedings, never letting their neighbours have things their own way with brave performances from Scott Grix, Carl Forber, Aaron Heremaia and Rob Roberts alongside outstanding efforts from youngsters John Cookson and Chris Hill.

Wigan got away quickly, scoring just 80 seconds into the game when Dennis Moran delayed his pass long enough for Joel Tomkins to pierce the defence. The Centurions slow start continued when Tickle scored from Logan’s inside pass which allowed the second row to kick the first of four goals.

Leigh responded brightly and Mark Calderwood was forced to kick dead with Adam Hughes bearing down on him after Paul Rowley’s intelligent grubber. The pressure eventually told on the visitors after 12 minutes. Grix kicked for the corner and Lee Greenwood aqua-planed over for Heremaia to convert from the touchline.

At 6-10 the game was finely balanced before the first weighty contribution from O’Loughlin. On 19 minutes the skipper broke down the right then shipped the ball onto Kevin Brown and he had enough pace to hold off the cover and complete a 50-metre attack. Tickle tagged on the goal.

Leigh surged forward only to be denied by strong goal line defence. It was during this spell that Brett Dallas was called into action, forcing the ball out of play for a drop-out while Danny Speakman lost possession close to the line as the Centurions efforts went unrewarded.

A high tackle from Liam Coleman on Hargreaves saw him sinbinned as Leigh finished the half with twelve men. Wigan could not take advantage however, when Calderwood knocked on following a touchline to touchline passing move.

Early in the second half the Warriors made their advantage count when O’Loughlin picked a perfect pass for Harrison Hansen to score and Godwin converted.

Eager to make amends for his sin bin offence, Coleman returned and broke in midfield. Brown hauled him to the floor and was then shown the yellow card by referee Steve Ganson for impeding the Leigh substitute.

The Centurions appeared to grab the initiative when Heremaia tackle dislodged the ball and former Widnes centre Adam Hughes ran 35 metres downfield only for the opportunity to go begging.

On their next possession the Warriors drilled a low kick behind the Centurions defence and Gareth Pemberton was hopelessly outnumbered by 4 Wigan players, one of those being David Vaealiki who got the Warriors fifth try.

Trailing 28-6 the Centurions came back positively, a low kick by Forber bounced off the post before Wigan capitalised on their good fortune.

A rapid break from Godwin carried the Warriors to within five metres of the line. Hughes conceded a penalty and one play later the diminutive hooker drove over for a deserved try. That was how things finished despite a late rally from the Centurions that just fell short of a second try that befitted their efforts.

Leigh coach Tony Benson said of the Centurions game,
“What the players have learned is that they can’t pick and choose ten minute periods when they really come on. I think the enthusiasm was there and that’s very pleasing for me. There were some good patches there when we held our own and defended really strongly.”

GAMESTAR: Sean O’Loughlin – Two moments of sublime class and a selection of intelligent low kicks, all from someone that hadn’t played a game for 10 months!



GAMEBREAKER: Hansen’s try early in the second half proved the score that confirmed a winning night for the Warriors.



MATCH FACTS:



LEIGH CENTURIONS



1 Scott Grix

2 Misili Manu

3 Adam Hughes

4 Danny Speakman

5 Lee Greenwood

6 Carl Forber

7 Aaron Heremaia

8 John Cookson

9 Paul Rowley ©

10 Warren Stevens

11 Tommy Grundy

12 Tere Glassie

13 Rob Roberts

SUBS (ALL USED)

14 Dean Gaskell

15 James Taylor

16 Chris Hill

17 Liam Coleman

Matty Bottom

Gary Sykes

Gareth Pemberton



Try: Greenwood (12).

Goal: Heremaia 1/1.



Sin bin: Coleman (35) – High tackle.











WIGAN WARRIORS



29 Chris Ashton

2 Mark Calderwood

4 David Vaealiki

14 Kevin Brown

5 Brett Dallas

6 Danny Orr

7 Dennis Moran

8 Scott Logan

9 Mick Higham

10 Iafea Paleaasina

22 Joel Tomkins

15 Danny Tickle

13 Sean O’Loughlin ©

SUBS (ALL USED)

16 Bryn Hargreaves

17 Jerry Seuseu

18 Wayne Godwin

19 Harrison Hansen

24 Darrell Goulding

25 Sean Gleeson

26 John Walker

27 Thomas Coyle

30 Liam Colbon

Michael McIllorum





Tries: Tomkins (2), Tickle (6), Brown (19), Hansen (43), Vaealiki (53), Godwin (69).

Goals: Tickle 4/5, Godwin 1/1.





Sin bin: Kevin Brown (49) – Holding Down.





Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)

Penalties: 7-10

GLDO 3-2

Halftime: 6-16



Scoring Sequence:
0-4; 0-10; 6-10; 6-16; 6-22; 6-28; 6-34

Rugby League Express & Rugby Leaguer Men of the Match:

Warriors: Sean O’Loughlin Centurions: Aaron Heremaia