2002 Season Reports: LEIGH 60 SWINTON 4

29/3/02 – Leigh 60 Swinton 4

By Dave Parkinson

Leigh started their National League Cup campaign with a comfortable win over brave Swinton Lions. The injury hit Centurions didn't look back once they scored their first try in the eleventh minute. What a good opening it was too! John Hamilton ran at the defence and fired a good ball to Simon Baldwin. He swatted off the attentions of a couple of tacklers and fed Liam Bretherton to the line.

Swinton battled away gamely with former Leigh forwards Lee Hansen and Andy Leathem driving hard but the Centurions hit them with three tries in eight minutes to move the scoreboard onto 24-0. Dave Whittle forced his way over the tryline and was followed by skipper Adam Bristow after a flowing midfield break from the Centurions. Samoan international Willie Swann scored the Centurions 4th try but Swinton were offered a glimmer of hope before halftime when Jason Roach seized on a Bretherton pass to scorch down the touchline.

An unlikely comeback was killed dead moments after the restart when Andy Isherwood supported a break. Mark McCully maintained his kicking and by the end of the game had amassed eight goals. With 10 minutes of the second half gone Leigh went on the attack once more, Bretherton supporting Baldwin for the touchdown. Then just as Swinton were recovering, Swann completely mesmerised the defence to cross in the corner.

Leigh continued to dominate and the tall Roach did well to hunt down Eric Andrews after the winger had flown 50 metres down the flank. The Centurions pushed the ball across the field but Dave Ingram couldn't capitalise.

The half had been something of a stop-start affair before referee Nick Oddy finally ran out of patience and sinbinned a Swinton player. With the Lions down to twelve their task was impossible and Dave Bradbury had far too much strength close to the line.

Leigh finished the game with a flourish - three tries in the last eight minutes. Paul Rowley rounded off another good display with a try before Simon Knox added his first score for the club. Fittingly, the final try went to the man who started the ball rolling. From a quick tap penalty the Lions were caught and Bretherton completed his hat-trick, and a comfortable win for the Centurions.

Team:

LEIGH: Bretherton (3 tries), Ingram, Anderson, McCully (8 goals), Andrews, Hamilton, Swann (2 tries), Knox (1 try), Rowley (1 try), Whittle (1 try), Baldwin, Isherwood (1 try), Bristow (1 try). Replacements: Price, Ball, Morley, Bradbury (1 try).