2009 Season Reports: DONCASTER 18 LEIGH CENTURIONS 24

DONCASTER 18 LEIGH CENTURIONS 24
DAVE PARKINSON at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Leigh Centurions claimed their second win of the Co-operative Championship season with a narrow victory at Doncasters impressive Keepmoat Stadium.

Winning coach Neil Kelly said that his side “needed to stop shooting itself in the foot” after they built a 24-6 lead only to be left clinging on at full-time.

He added, “We played well for fifty to sixty minutes with the ball and on defence but the age old problem with Leigh is that we shoot ourselves in the foot by giving away so many penalties.”

There was little between the two teams in the first half when for the first ten minutes Leigh remained error free without troubling the Doncaster try-line. This period was dominated by an old fashioned armwrestle between the two front rows. Andy Hobson and Dave McConnell shone for the Centurions while Craig Cook and former Wakefield Academy product Mark Castle were among the top performers for the Dons.

It was the hosts that threatened first when former Hull KR threequarter Andreas Bauer threaded a kick that forced an error and then clearance from Dave Alstead. Lee Marsh, in for his first game of the season then sparked a move at the other end when his wide pass put Stuart Donlan, then Alstead away only for an excellent tackle to force the winger out of play.

Neither side seemed able to capitalise until the 22nd minute when Ian Watson struck a 40-20. Straight from possession, Marsh collected a pass from his bootlaces and Mort was on hand to go over from his astute offload. The fullback struck the conversion and then added a superb finish after Danny Meekin and the impressive Kurt Haggerty forged an opening and Mort sped through in support. 12-0 was soon 12-6when following a short spell of pressure, Doncaster got over by the posts through Matt Carbutt for Kyle Briggs to convert.

Just before the break, Leigh grabbed their third try when Watson found Haggerty and his strength took him through an attempted tackle and over the line.

Within two minutes of the start of the second half, the Centurions added their fourth try when Chris Hill did all the running and Andy Hobson touched down. Mort added his fourth goal and Doncaster went on the attack with six minutes of continuous pressure. Wayne Riett, Castle and Briggs all went close but the defence held firm. Leigh thought they had grabbed another try when Alstead got in at the corner following a 30 metre surge from a Marsh pass. The final ball was deemed forward and the visitors were reduced to twelve men a minute later when Mike Morrison was sinbinned for a high tackle.

Doncaster spied their chance to attack and after a couple of destructive runs from the likes of Al Rounding and Nathan Freer, Craig Cook was alert at dummy half to nip through for the score. Briggs converted and the game was really put in the melting pot after 67 minutes when Andreas Bauer stole a ball from his opposite number Mort and ran 40 metres to score. Briggs again goaled and the Centurions had defend for another period before eventually claiming the win.

Dons coach Tony Miller said: “It was a winnable game for us but individual errors prevented us from claiming the three points. We have a few players back in contention now and this will only see us get stronger.”

GAMEBREAKER: The try just after halftime which left the brave Dons with too much to do

GAMESTAR: Anthony Rourke had an excellent game before leaving the field injured, special mentions for Kurt Haggerty and Dons halfback Paul Handforth who never stopped scheming.

DONCASTER
3 Andreas Bauer
26 Gaz Carey
19 Ryan Steen
34 Luke May
5 Wayne Riette
6 Kyle Briggs
7 Paul Handforth
28 Jamie Bovill
9 Craig Cook
15 Mark Castle
11 Peter Green
17 Ross Divorty
13 Josh Weeden
SUBS (ALL USED)
22 Andy Speak
29 Matt Carbutt
16 Nathan Freer
27 Al Rounding

Tries: Carbutt (29), Cook (56), Bauer (67)
Goals: Briggs 3/3
Field Goal:
On Report:
Sin bin: (TIME) – offence
Dismissals:

CENTURIONS
14 Ian Mort
2 Dave Alstead
1 Stuart Donlan
15 Adam Higson
3 Steve Maden
17 Lee Marsh
7 Ian Watson
8 Andy Hobson
9 Dave McConnell
10 Mike Morrison
29 Lee Wingfield
12 James Taylor
27 Anthony Rourke
Subs (All used)
4 Tony Stewart
40 Kurt Haggerty
28 Danny Meekin
10 Mike Morrison

Tries: Mort (23, 25), Haggerty (39), Hobson (42)
Goals: Mort 4/4
Field goal:
On Report:
Sin bin: Morrison (55) – High Tackle
Dismissal:

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Doncaster: Mark Castle
Leigh: Anthony Rourke

Penalty count: 12-3
Half-time: 18-6
Referee: Mr R Laughton
Attendance: 827

SCORING SEQUENCE:
0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 6-18, 6-24, 12-24, 18-24.