2007 Season Reports: WIDNES 46 LEIGH 12

Widnes Vikings 46 Leigh Centurions 12
Co-Operative National League One – Round 1 – 5th April 2007

By Dave Parkinson.

On the opening night of the Cop-Operative National League One campaign, Leigh were second best by some distance in what later became a demolition derby between the two local rivals. Dennis Moran was the main thorn in Leigh’s side with a sparkling hat-trick but he received sterling support from Scott Grix, Bob Beswick and Jordan James.

Widnes were quick out of the blocks and scored after just two minutes when Mick Nanyn offloaded in a two man tackle for Scott Grix to nip over for his 10th try of the season despite desperate attempts by Aaron Heremaia.

Leigh needed to hit back quickly, but it was Widnes instead that took a grip on proceedings as Gavin Dodd was held up over the try-line on the last tackle.

On their next set, Heremaia narrowly missed out on a 40-20 but a silly ball steal on Ollie Wilkes gifted possession and the Vikings forced a drop-out. Former Leigh fullback Grix again got close to the line and the Vikings forced another drop-out before finally coughing up the ball – their first mistake in ten minutes.

Leigh saw their first possession in the Widnes half after fourteen minutes but despite the best efforts of Rob Roberts who had an immense game in the back-row, the visitors could not break through, instead gifting another penalty to the hosts.

Widnes began to turn the screw and scored a second try after 15 minutes when Moran’s low kick caught the Centurions unaware and Damien Blanch ran on to collect the bounce and touch down.

Sean Richardson entered the fray after 19 minutes for his second debut, but it started poorly when the experienced forward was adjudged to have knocked on from his very first carry.

Fortunately, the Leigh defence repelled this raid and Widnes had to be content with a further Nanyn penalty that made it 14-0 after 27 minutes. If Leigh thought they had got away lightly, they were sadly mistaken and a clearing kick from Mark Smith created pandemonium. Blanch was able to toe on from Leigh’s indecision and Moran picked up the ball before sending Toa Kohe-Love over to make it 18-0.

Leigh briefly looked threatening and got into a promising position before the Vikings reacted quickly to Heremaia’s error and raced away. Fortunately a forward pass saved further Leigh blushes and the game passed without incident until the 37th minute when Miles Greenwood was sin-binned for holding down.

Almost immediately, Widnes took advantage when that man Moran bamboozled the defence before reaching out to score. Nanyn added his fourth goal and the Vikings lead 24-0 at half-time.

With the words of the coaching staff ringing in their ears, Leigh started the second half positively as Adam Hughes surged forward before laying the ball back in a promising position. The Centurions then restricted Widnes on their next possession and Heremaia got on the end of a spiralling kick from Roberts to go close.

The Vikings then came forward with purpose and when Leigh moved up quickly to try and get to Moran he span a beautiful pass to the left and Gavin Dodd blasted through a weak tackle to get to the line.

Heremaia’s timely intervention in defence denied Smith a try after 48 minutes and a fumble from Dodd saw another go astray.

Richardson was then put on report for an alleged trip and Blanch was unable to get more than fingers to a difficult Moran kick for the corner. Leigh again responded gamely when Hughes broke from his own forty and managed to get the ball inside through Warren Stevens and Sam Butterworth before solid defence ended the move.

On the hour a swashbuckling run down centre-field saw Greenwood go forty metres but a disappointing end to the set saw Grix take the ball with minimum resistance. He then linked with Dodd and the former Oldham winger surged 60 metres down the left before the ball was fed inside and Moran shrugged off Ainscough’s tackle attempt to score.

Three minutes later, Widnes increased their lead to 40-0 when Grix sold a dummy and raced between two forwards from 15 metres.

Butterworth was then yellow carded for involving himself with a twenty metre tap after 67 minutes, yet his absence seemed to galvanise Leigh’s efforts.

The Centurions finally gave their long-suffering support something to cheer when Heremaia slipped through from Roberts forceful run and offload. Hughes converted but became a villain seconds later after spilling Roberts long pass. That gifted Moran his hat-trick score from thirty metres and brought about the biggest cheer of the night. Nanyn kicked his 7th and final goal before Leigh had the last word, Heremaia following up Ainscough’s kick for Hughes to boot his second goal.

Teams:

Widnes:
1. Scott Grix
2. Damien Blanch
3. Toa Kohe-Love
4. Mick Nanyn
5. Gavin Dodd
6. Dennis Moran
7. Andy Kain
8. Jordan James
9. Mark Smith
10. Oliver Wilkes
11. Lee Doran
12. Paul Noone
13. Bob Beswick
SUBS (ALL USED)
14. Aaron Summers
15. Mick Cassidy
16. Daryl Cardiss
17. Gareth Price

Tries: Grix (2, 64), Blanch (15), Kohe-Love (29), Moran (38, 61, 74), Dodd (44).
Goals: Nanyn 7/9.

Leigh:
1. Miles Greenwood
2. Rob Smyth
3. David Alstead
4. Adam Hughes
5. Leroy Rivett
6. Martin Ainscough
7. Aaron Heremaia
8. Warren Stevens
9. John Clough
10. Dana Wilson
11. Chris Hill
12. Tommy Grundy
13. Rob Roberts
SUBS (ALL USED)
14. Sam Butterworth
15. Tim Jonkers
16. Sean Richardson
17. John Cookson

Tries: Heremaia (72, 78)
Goals: Hughes 2/2.
Sin-binned: Greenwood (37 – holding down), Butterworth (67 – interference at 20 metre tap)
On-report: Richardson (54 – alleged trip)

Referee: Mr G Hewer (Whitehaven)
Penalties: 10-4 to Widnes.
Halftime score: 24-0
Attendance: 3,792.

Men of the Match: Widnes: Dennis Moran, Leigh: Rob Roberts.