LEIGH CENTURIONS 66
FEATHERSTONE LIONS 0
By DAVE PARKINSON
There was never the hint of an upset at Hilton Park as Leigh Centurions made comfortable progress in the Challenge Cup at the expense of Co-operative Conference National champs Featherstone Lions.
In total, Leigh amassed thirteen tries, nine of which came in a clinical first half performance. The Lions started slowly but gave a plucky account of themselves with industrious performances from Kris Smith, Dean Gamble and Jimmy Carlton in particular.
“We knew it was going to be a big task.” Admitted Lions boss Simon Tuffs. “We were a bit undercooked to come and play a side like Leigh who are going to be one of the top two or three teams in their league. We only had a team half match-fit but we could have done a bit better. We took a few bad options and dropped two or three passes which could have got us a try or two here and there. The effort was there and two or three of our players wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Leigh side. Dean Gamble won our Man-of-Steel award at the Lions last year and is still only eighteen. He is an outstanding prospect and this was his first game back from a broken thumb.”
He continued, “We told them to forget about that first half and make a few positive memories. Unfortunately we didn’t get over the line but the lads dug in and they raised their game and I’ve got to give them credit for that.”
The Centurions club record score looked set to be challenged as Lee Doran, John Hill, Martin Keavney (2), Chris Giles (2), Toa Kohe-Love, Aaron Smith and James Taylor all registered tries and Ian Watson kicked five goals.
The rout began after just two minutes when Dave McConnell found Doran with a short ball and by the time Kohe-Love set sail in glorious fashion from forty metres after Nathan McAvoy advanced a short kick-off, Leigh were 36-0 up with ten minutes of the first half remaining. With Watson buzzing in midfield and the outstanding Aaron Smith adding varied and dangerous support, the Lions rarely threatened, although a couple of promising sets did force Leigh to defend their line when Carlton in particular looked capable of breaking.
A try from Kohe-Love early in the second half stretched it out to a 52-0 advantage, but credit must go to the Lions with Clifton Richardson and Dean Raikes weighing in their defensive support for the likes of Gamble and Smith.
New Centurion Lee Marsh made good inroads after 56 minutes and a quick play-the-ball saw McConnell scoot upfield before Mike Morrison carried on the move on for Smith to claim his second try in support. Marsh converted and Dave Alstead became the eighth different try scorer for Leigh six minutes later.
The final try of the game was a classic counter attack. A failed chip from Byron Cooper landed in the arms of Morrison. Although the force of the tackle dislodged the ball it fell to Steve Maden who picked his way past three would be defenders on a 60 metre run to the line. Marsh couldn’t convert from wide out and Leigh advanced by 66-0.
Centurions Football Manager Darren Shaw thought there was an improvement from his side in the first half. “Our attitude was very good, our completions were the best they’ve been all year and our discipline was very good – we didn’t concede one in the first half. We wanted to work on a few little things that have been untidy. In comparison our second half was a bit disappointing and we lost our way a little bit with completions way down on the first half and the score reflected it too.”
LEIGH CENTURIONS: Maden 8, Giles 7, McAvoy 8, Kohe-Love 8, Alstead 7, Keavney 7, Watson 8; C. Hill 7, McConnell 7, J. Hill 7, Wainwright 7, Doran 7, Smith 9. Subs: Roberts 7, Taylor 7, Morrison 8, Marsh 7.
Tries: Doran, J. Hill, Keavney 2, Giles 2, Kohe-Love 2, Smith 2, Taylor, Alstead, Maden
Goals: Watson 6, Marsh 1
Drop Goal
FEATHERSTONE LIONS: Hinchcliffe 6, Smeaton 7, Froggatt 6, Crowe 6, Frankland 6; Nicholson 6, Raikes 7, Child 6, Giles 6, Tepper 6, Carlton 8, Watson 6, Barker 6. Subs: Cooper 6, Richardson 7, Gamble 8, Smith 8.
Tries:
Goals:
Referee: JP Boulagnon (France)
Half-time: 46-0
Penalties: 8-1
Weather: cloudy, cold with patchy rain.
Man-of-the-match: Aaron Smith (Leigh)
Attendance: 1,052
Match rating: 3/5
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