2006 Season Reports: WIDNES 32 LEIGH 16

WIDNES VIKINGS 32 LEIGH CENTURIONS 16
By Dave Parkinson

The National League One shoot out for second spot produced a compelling game at the Halton Stadium where for well over an hour, things were evenly poised between a strong Widnes side and Leigh’s bruised team.

The Centurions welcomed Adam Hughes back to the starting line-up for his first game since the Northern Rail Final while Chris Hill, Aaron Heremaia and Carl Forber were all included after fitness tests. Unfortunately Mick Govin, Tere Glassie, Danny Speakman and Warren Stevens all missed out due to an assortment of injuries.

A fiery opening saw veteran prop Barrie McDermott fall foul of referee Ian Smith. Three times he was penalised and after a fourth high tackle, Smith sent McDermott to the sin-bin.

Leigh immediately took the lead when they moved play left. Former Vikings centre Adam Hughes cleverly changing the angle of his run to carry two players over the line on route to his 10th try of the season. Assuming the goal-kicking duties, Robert Roberts converted and it was 6-0. For a spell most of the play centred between the two twenty metre lines before Widnes created three opportunities, one for Daryl Cardiss which forced a drop out and the other two for wingman Damien Blanch.

Sean Gleeson then pulled a controversial try back for Widnes on 14 minutes after appearing to strip the ball from Heremaia in a tackle that also involved former Leigh favourite Oliver Wilkes. Despite the protests of skipper Paul Rowley and Heremaia, the try stood and Mick Nanyn goaled.

Tempers continued to simmer with Ricky Bibey and Terry O’Connor fronting up at a scrum before Leigh created an opportunity after 19 minutes. Heremaia threw a pass for Carl Forber on the last tackle. Forber fed it wide again to Danny Halliwell but the move was ruled forward with Halliwell in acres of space. A minute later Leigh had a scrum in their half and Heremaia and Halliwell worked an opening for Dean Gaskell to race downfield. The opportunity was lost when Nanyn raced out of the line and Forber spilled the ball.

The see-saw nature of the game continued when Cardiss went clear on halfway only for Halliwell to tackle him into touch. The Centurions suffered a blow after 23 minutes when defender-in-chief James Taylor was forced from the field.

It wasn’t until the 30th minute that Leigh created another chance when dynamic running from Gaskell saw him escape the clutches of four players and swerve into an opening. From the break, he was unable to find Scott Grix in support but the Centurions were awarded a penalty and Aaron Heremaia shot over from close range.

This sparked the Vikings to life and after 36 minutes Nanyn wriggled over to ground the ball in a two man tackle before kicking the conversion to make it 12-12 at the break.

On their first possession, Leigh spun the ball wide and a lovely step from Heremaia saw him evade Gleeson and charge 50 metres with Greenwood in support and Dennis Moran in pursuit. An inside pass for Greenwood was palmed back by Moran, who then appeared to knock-on. Widnes charged down the other end with solid forward play creating the platform and Moran skipped away from three defenders to score from close range.

With Dana Wilson and Bryn Hargreaves doing everything possible to gain metres and Heremaia a growing influence, the Centurions saw Widnes fullback Gavin Dodd spill possession. Leigh went on the attack but Hughes spilled the ball near Widnes’ line.

The Vikings then began to enjoy themselves with David Allen held over the line and Ian Watson forcing a drop out. During this period, Leigh defended manfully and this eventually saw Widnes spill possession. Another surge from Gaskell made a mockery of three defenders and Leigh built pressure only too see it come to nothing when Chris Hill was forced out of play near the Vikings line.

This saw Leigh chase the error and when Bob Beswick coughed up the ball in a Halliwell tackle, the Centurions didn’t need asking twice. Hughes was grounded a metre short and Carl Forber kicked for the corner. Gaskell outjumped Cardiss and palmed back for Halliwell to claim his 18th try of the season. Unfortunately, Roberts conversion attempt hit the post and bounced away leaving the Centurions trailing 18-16 with 21 minutes remaining.

A late raid then saw the Vikings plunder a victory later acknowledged as deserved by Centurions boss Tony Benson.

Due to circumstances, Leigh’s bench included regular Senior Academy players Paul Ballard, Martin Roden and Gareth Pemberton, but with Taylor out of the running, options were limited.

Widnes began to take control and Wigan loanee Gleeson pounced for his second from a Moran kick after 69 minutes. Leigh were fading and when Beswick smartly kicked forward on the last tackle two minutes later, Mick Cassidy won the race for Nanyn to convert. Moran missed with a drop goal attempt and with time ticking down, Leigh knew that a fifth National League defeat was upon them. With the final kick of the game, Nanyn slotted over his 6th goal, a 45 metre penalty, to confirm Widnes advantage on the day and hand them a 32-16 win.

LEIGH: Grix, Gaskell, Hughes, Halliwell, Greenwood; Forber, Heremaia; Bibey, Rowley, Hargreaves, Taylor, Hill, Roberts. SUBS: Ballard, Martin Roden, Pemberton, Wilson.

Tries: Hughes (5), Heremaia (30), Halliwell (59).
Goals: Roberts 2/3.

WIDNES: Dodd, Blanch, Gleeson, Nanyn, Cardiss; Moran, Watson; O’Connor, Smith, McDermott, Cassidy, Wilkes, Beswick. SUBS: Coyle, Allen, James, Tandy.

Tries: Gleeson (14, 69), Nanyn (36), Moran (43), Cassidy (71)
Goals: Nanyn 6/6.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham)
Penalties: 10-7 to Leigh.
Half-time: 12-12.
Drop outs: 2-0 to Leigh.
Attendance: 3,759.