A HULL OF A NIGHT!
Hull KR 17 Leigh 28
By Dave Parkinson
After last season's well publicised floodlight failure and late season replay, it was good to make the trip to Hull on two fronts. Firstly the game was played in daylight meaning a repeat performance of that debacle was avoided and secondly Leigh achieved only their third Craven Park win in a decade, thanks to a gutsy team performance.
Rovers had their moments and it would be of no surprise if the East Yorkshire side go on to cause a real stir in National League One this season.
Centurion scrum-half John Duffy, deputising with the boot in the absence of injured Neil Turley, kicked Leigh to an early 2-0 lead after Michael Watts was obstructed from chasing his own kick. Shortly after Pat Weisner made a great break and Leigh looked set to add to the score. Things didn't quite happen and Rovers were allowed too much room when hooker Paul Pickering snapped up a loose ball from prop Richard Wilson and scrum-half Latham Tawhai moved play again for Craig Farrell to release Alasdair MccLarron to the corner for an unconverted try on 15 minutes.
Rovers again successfully targetted Leigh's right flank after 20 minutes. Poor marker play left a huge gap and experienced Tawhai took control of the situation to work an overlap for Farrell to send MccLarron racing past David Alstead for a second unconverted try.
Rovers continued to build pressure but a combination of poor execution, good defence and fortune saw Leigh hold firm. The Centurions responded with Alan Hadcroft blasting through two tackles to cross from 40 metres after 25 minutes.
Rovers added a penalty on the half-hour to lead 10-6 but substitute Dale Holdstock forced his way over on the left following a short but intense spell of pressure four minutes later. Unfortunately Duffy's conversion attempt faded but thoughts of a tied half disappeared when Tawhai dropped a goal two minutes before the interval.
Three minutes into the second half Craig Poucher was sinbinned for dissent yet this seemed to spur Rovers on. A powerful three man tackle put Sean Richardson in touch on the Hull KR '40' and a raking kick from Chris Stephenson caught the Centurions flat-footed. McClarron beat the chasers to touch the ball down and grab his third try of the game - this time converted by Stephenson.
Stung into action, Leigh were a changed team playing with discipline and composure. A 7 point advantage to the home side never looked enough and the lead was cut to one-point after Alstead scored after 51 minutes. It was a superb try, Alstead pushed up in support of Bryan Henare's midfield break before wriggling through a couple of attempted tackles near the line.
Phil Kendrick opened his scoring account for the season in the 56th minute, swooping on a dropped ball from KR's Ian Bell to go over. Duffy's easy conversion put the Centurions up by 22-17, but there was a long way to go.
With defences still on top, the game remained scoreless for 15 minutes before a long ball from Duffy was taken by David Bradbury who fed Holdstock for his second try. The former Swinton player looked like a human bowling ball as he kept low to evade both Anthony Seibold and Poucher. Crucially this opened a nine point lead and started a mass exodus on the terraces as home supporters moved for the exit gates. Two further drop-goals from Duffy added insult to injury, securing Leigh's first win on the East coast in three years.
Man-of-the-Match: Bryan Henare was outstanding defensively and his performance over the 80 minutes means he just gets the nod ahead of Alan Hadcroft, Patrick Weisner and Paul Rowley.
Hull KR: Poucher, Pinkney, Bell, Farrell, McClarron; Stephenson, Tawhai; Wilson, Pickering, Bovill, Sullivan, Aston, Smith; Andrews, Seibold, Howard, Fletcher.
Tries: McClarron 3 (15 mins, 20 mins, 45 mins)
Goals: Stephenson 2/4, Tawhai 1DG.
Leigh: Alstead, Rivett, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Watts; Weisner, Duffy; Nickle, Rowley, Norman, Richardson, Henare, Bristow; Holdstock, Swann, Sanderson, Bradbury.
Tries: Hadcroft (25 mins), Holdstock 2 (34 mins, 71 mins), Alstead (51 mins), Kendrick (56 mins).
Goals: Duffy 3/6 + 2DG
Attendance 2,030.
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