2007 Season Reports: Northern Rail Cup: LEIGH 24 WIDNES 8

Leigh Centurions 24 Widnes Vikings 8 Dave Parkinson at Hilton Park

Leigh Centurions blew Group Six of the Northern Rail Cup wide open with a tough and physical performance against Widnes in the Leigh mud and rain.

The two key ingredients of the Centurions win were ball retention and patience both of which were shown in abundance, while by comparison, Widnes frittered away several opportunities.

“We kept composed for longer periods of time and concentrated on keeping hold of the ball which we did a bit better this week – 80% completion in both halves – it tells a tale doesn’t it?” Leigh Football Manager Darren Shaw said.

“We took some opportunities. I thought we worked really hard and played smart in the first half in the face of a pretty strong wind. Having Rowls back around the rucks helped us control things and he gave us an extra bit with his kicking game down the short side. I was looking for a much improved performance on last week and I think we got that.”

The game got away to a rip-roaring start with Tim Jonkers recovering a short kick-off into the breeze. Within six tackles and 57 seconds, Leigh had scored their first try when Aaron Heremaia kicked across field and Robert Roberts dived and grounded the ball in the same movement. Heremaia converted to complete Leigh’s perfect start.

Widnes then marched up to the other end of the field after powerful driving from the likes of Mick Cassidy, Andy Bracek and Lee Doran and lay siege to the Centurions line for a solid ten minute period, during which they forced two drop-outs and were awarded a couple of penalties.

Somehow the Leigh rearguard stood firm and pressure was released when Paul Rowley ripped the ball out in a one-on-one tackle on Andy Kain after 19 minutes.

After weathering the storm, Leigh replied clinically after 23 minutes. The inspiration came from substitute John Cookson who made a rampaging 20 metre burst with his first touch. A quick play-the-ball released Rowley and Heremaia ran through a yawning gap in centrefield before handing on to Miles Greenwood who had too much pace for the Vikings.

An earlier altercation between Roberts and Paul Noone saw the pair warned by referee Jamie Leahy and the running battle continued between the teams when Dave Alstead and former Leigh winger Dean Gaskell clashed after 26 minutes.

The Centurions then took another chance that fell their way when Tommy Grundy saw his chip ricochet into the arms of Alstead. He then handed back inside to Grundy who finished out wide after 34 minutes. Despite their best efforts neither side could add to the score-line and at half-time Leigh held a 16-0 advantage.

At the start of the second half, Widnes kicked into the strong breeze but Leigh took possession and marched down the ground for Martin Ainscough, Heremaia and Greenwood to get the ball to Leroy Rivett.

The former Hull KR winger appeared hemmed in on the touchline but sublime footwork dazzled two defenders and he was somehow allowed to touch down in the corner. Heremaia was unable to convert and the inevitable Widnes fightback began with Oliver Wilkes, Jordan James and excellent Bob Beswick well to the fore.

The Vikings looked set to score after 49 minutes but Heremaia and Rivett doubled up to stop Toa Kohe-Love inches short.

Widnes began to exert pressure on the Leigh line and eventually opened up play in the 55th minute when sprightly work from Kain and Scott Grix saw Kohe-Love hand on for Daryll Cardiss to fly in at the corner. Gavin Dodd missed with the conversion but began to get more into the game with a series of strong kick-returns. One such run brought an outstanding cover tackle from Greenwood after 65 minutes before a melee erupted in backplay with several punches being thrown.

Mr Leahy placed the entire incident on report before Rowley and Gareth Price were shown yellow cards for their role in proceedings. Brave defence again kept the Vikings at bay with Rivett taking a tricky Dodd kick in the corner despite intense pressure from Cardiss.

Eventually a try came with Beswick showing good speed and strength to scythe past two defenders to the line. The conversion attempt from Dodd was instantly forgettable but crucially the Vikings were in bonus point territory.

Grix became the latest Vikings player to go close a minute later but Rivett came up with another try-stopper and another Widnes try went begging with loose hands on the line.

Sensing their opportunity, Leigh moved into range and after Daryl Kay was halted close to the line, Rowley found Cookson on the burst and the young forward powered over for a try that meant the visitors came away from the game with nothing.

"For the first sixty minutes we were chasing them", said Widnes coach Steve McCormack. "Even in those conditions I would have expected us to throw the ball about a little bit more than we did. When we did that we looked dangerous. In the first half we had a lot of pressure early on and didn't take. We lacked some cutting edge near the line and all credit to Leigh they had their chances and they took them. Overall I'm really disappointed."

Gamebreaker: Rivett’s try just after half-time put a twenty point buffer between the teams and given the conditions, Widnes just had too much to do.

Game Star: John Cookson was immense in the Centurions engine room and crowned his efforts with a try. His impact on the game lifted Leigh at the times when the Vikings looked to become dominant.

Match Facts

Centurions
1 Miles Greenwood
2 Dave Alstead
3 Tommy Grundy
4 Anthony Stewart
5 Leroy Rivett
6 Martin Ainscough
7 Aaron Heremaia
8 Warren Stevens
9 Paul Rowley
10 John Hill
11 Mailangi Styles
12 Robert Roberts
13 Tim Jonkers
(All Used)
14 Sam Butterworth
15 Daryl Kay
16 Chris Hill
17 John Cookson

Tries: Roberts (1), Greenwood (23), Grundy (34), Rivett (41), Cookson (78)
Goals: Heremaia 2/5.
Sinbinned: Rowley (66 - fighting)
On Report (65 – brawl)

Vikings
1 Gavin Dodd
2 Darryl Cardiss
3 Toa Kohe-Love
4 Andy Kirk
5 Dean Gaskell
6 Scott Grix
7 Andy Kain
8 Mick Cassidy
9 Mark Smith
10 Andy Bracek
11 Lee Doran
12 Paul Noone
13 Bob Beswick
SUBS
14 Adam Bowman (Not Used)
15 Oliver Wilkes
16 Jordan James
17 Gareth Price

Tries: Cardiss (55), Beswick (70)
Goals: Dodd 0/2
Sinbinned: Price (66 – fighting)
On Report: (65 – brawl)

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury)
Penalties: 10-10
Half-time: 16-0
Full-time: 24-8
Attendance: 2,291

Scoring Sequence: 6-0; 12-0; 16-0; 20-0; 20-4; 20-8; 24-8