2003 Season Reports: WHITEHAVEN 8 LEIGH 20

20th July

Centurions defeat Haven to remain joint top.

WHITEHAVEN 8 LEIGH CENTURIONS 20
By Dave Parkinson

Leigh Centurions gained only their second win in 14 years at the Recreation Ground on Sunday following a hard fought game against Whitehaven.

The Cumbrian hosts went into the game with virtually a full team while Leigh lacked several key personnel and even included under-18 players Richard Grimes and Kieron Maddocks in their 18 man squad. Maddocks later made a solid debut in the final 10 minutes and alongside him on the bench was Anthony Blackwood, recalled from a loan spell at Chorley due to the Centurions current injury problems.

A tense first half found scoring opportunities at a premium with defences firmly on top. In the second minute 'Haven opened the scoring when scrum-half Darren Holt converted a penalty from halfway after support for David Fatialofa's midfield break was held back.

Whitehaven also had the next scoring chance when only a flying cover tackle from Sonny Nickle halted the winger short.

As the Centurions grew in confidence, so did their attack. Neil Turley was the catalyst, breaking three times including twice from deep and unlocking the defence with a pass that put Bryan Henare into a gaping hole only for the big Kiwi to be denied by a double movement. Turley also kicked a 40-20, forced two drop outs and his boot led directly to the first Leigh try in the 18th minute when Damian Munro comfortably collected the crossfield bomb to score his 25th try of an ever productive season.

Both teams defended magnificently for the rest of the half with the Leigh line coming under heavy bombardment in the closing stages.

The second half started in much the same vein before Leigh took control with 3 tries.

The first fell to Sean Richardson who dummied his way between David Seeds and Holt to score. Then in the 57th minute, following Munro's initial foray in centre-field, Adam Bristow combined with Nickle to send the former Saint racing over for a converted try.

Just four minutes later Leigh were on top again when another classy pass from Turley put Henare away and this time there was no stopping the forward as he went over for his third try of the season. Turley converted brilliantly from the sideline and the Centurions led 20-2.

The game threatened to boil over ten minutes from time when Leroy Joe and Paul Rowley began fighting after the Leigh hooker put pressure on the Haven stand-off at a kick. Both players were sinbinned and the incident was placed on report by the match official before Richardson flattened Whitehaven sub Carl Sice with a high tackle that looked more clumsy than malicious.

Thankfully all the players returned to playing rugby and 'Haven were finally rewarded for their efforts when Howard Hill powered clear from a scrum 40 metres out in the last minute.


Man-of-the-Match: The pack was brilliant today but Neil Turley was in a class of his own, playing fullback in defence and stand-off in attack.

Team:
Watts, Rivett, Hadcroft, Munro, Alstead; Turley, Swann; Nickle, Rowley, Bradbury, Richardson, Henare, Bristow; Maddocks, Blackwood, Ball, Norman.

Tries: Munro, Richardson, Nickle, Henare
Goals: Turley 2

Whitehaven:
Try: Hill
Goal: Holt 2