SHEFFIELD EAGLES 39
LEIGH CENTURIONS 12
By Dave Parkinson.
Friday the 13th may have been last weekend but you’d have been hard-pressed to find another time this season when the Centurions have given their fans such a horror show.
At rain-soaked Don Valley, the Centurions impressive June win at Whitehaven seemed a million miles away as particularly in the first half, Leigh lurched from one handling error to another; gifting their hosts three tries in the process.
Sheffield Eagles belied their lowly league placing with a near perfect game in the conditions while Leigh introduced untried halfback pairing Dave McConnell and Chris Hough to the mix.
With little sign of what was to follow, Leigh made a reasonable start when Leroy Rivett stepped clear of puddles and defenders in midfield only for supporting Miles Greenwood to be taken down by an enthusiastic rearguard.
Sheffield built both field pressure and position gradually and when debutant Chris Hough fired a kick downfield Rob Worrincy showed a clean pair of heels down the Eagles right before turning inside to Adam Hayes who found James Ford for the centre to add the first of a four try haul.
Eagles pivot Gavin Brown dominated throughout and struck a 40-20 which helped set the platform for the second try. When fellow halfback Dominic Brambani forced a drop out, it was only a matter of time for Sheffield.
Brambani proved Leigh’s undoing with a well weighted kick to the Sheffield left. Rivett contested with Danny Mills only for the former Hull KR wing to spill the ball over the line for Ford to score one of the easiest tries of his career. Johnny Woodcock converted before Leigh briefly came back when quick hands released David Alstead down the left and his inside pass saw Greenwood splashdown after 17 minutes.
Debutant Chris Hough missed the tricky kick before Brown’s right boot proved architect to another score. Ford swept under the radar to pounce on the perfectly weighted kick for a 21st minute hat-trick.
Things got worse seven minutes later when the otherwise dependable Alstead lost the ball from Brambani’s grubber and Woodcock was first to react. In less than half an hour, Leigh’s hopes lay in tatters. Loan signing Hough, a direct replacement for injured Aaron Heremaia kicked a 40-20 but Leigh spilled the ball.
No such error befell the Eagles who charged downfield for Gavin Brown to drop a goal and when Sean Richardson gifted a penalty for holding down 30 metres out, Woodcock stepped up to land his fifth goal of the evening, ensuring that Sheffield were virtually out of sight at half-time.
Leigh tried desperately to get the score board ticking with Sebastian Martins held up over the line before Sam Butterworth grubbered through, collected brilliantly and got the ball to Tommy Grundy but Danny Halliwell spilled the pass. A further opportunity arose when Hough and Greenwood both went close before Damien Reid fortuitously intercepted to carry the ball to halfway. The speedy Worrincy appeared on his shoulder and ran unopposed to open a 33-4 advantage.
Halliwell started play with a kick that saw Alstead regather and Butterworth found space on the right for Greenwood to add his second try of the evening. Again Hough’s conversion attempt was waved away and Woodcock’s low kick-off slid out of play to secure Sheffield possession. A clever long pass from Brown proved Leigh’s undoing and Ford slid in at the corner for his fourth try of the night. Woodcock was imperious with the boot, adding his seventh goal from seven attempts and the Eagles scoring was complete.
Leigh frittered away a further scoring chance when Butterworth again split the line only to see his pass for Rivett go down.
There was still time for one more try, Leigh attacking with rare fluency after 74 minutes for Anthony Stewart to send Alstead over for his 10th of the season. It proved scant consolation for Centurion supporters who really deserved better.
Match Stats:
SHEFFIELD: Johnny Woodcock, Danny Mills, James Ford, Damien Reid, Rob Worrincy; Gavin Brown, Dominic Brambani; Jack Howieson, Paul Pickering, Mitch Stringer, Craig Brown, Tommy Trayler, Adam Hayes; Grant Edwards, Dale Holdstock, Richard Newlove, Ged Corcoran.
Tries: Ford 4 (7, 12, 21, 62), Woodcock (28), Worrincy (57).
Goals: Woodcock 7/7, Gavin Brown DG (35).
LEIGH: Miles Greenwood, Leroy Rivett, Danny Halliwell, Anthony Stewart, David Alstead; Dave McConnell, Chris Hough; Dana Wilson, John Clough, John Cookson, Chris Hill, Tommy Grundy, Mailangi Styles; Sam Butterworth, Gareth Pemberton, Sean Richardson, Seb Martins.
Tries: Greenwood 2 (17, 60), Alstead (74).
Goals: Hough 0/2, Butterworth 0/1.
Referee: Jamie Leahy.
Penalties: 6-5
Errors: 11-20
Attendance: 807
Conditions: Incessant rain.
Progressive Score: 6-0; 12-0; 12-4; 18-4; 24-4; 25-4; 27-4; 33-4; 33-8; 39-8; 39-12.
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