2004 Season Reports: Leigh 60 Chorley Lynx 10

LEIGH CENTURIONS 60 CHORLEY LYNX 10

By Dave Parkinson

A sparkling hat-trick from second row man Andy Isherwood was the highlight of the Centurions eleven try pummelling of a Chorley side who lacked little in effort but could not compete with the class or finesse of Neil Turley, John Duffy, Tommy Martyn, Paul Rowley and Ian Knott.

Leigh threatened in the fourth minute when Rowley created space for Duffy to break and feed Knott but the former Wakefield loose forward spilled possession.

This was only temporary respite for the visitors and Turley and Isherwood combined to send the supporting Rowley in for a converted try. Rowley spilled a second chance after eight minutes but the Centurions kept up the heat and forced a drop-out from a threatening Martyn kick. Leigh worked possession beautifully, Turley lofted a measured kick for Dave Alstead to collect and skip around Gary O’Reagan for the second try.

Neil Turley’s creativity showed up throughout and he was the architect of Isherwood’s first try on 20 minutes.

Leigh continued to break the visitor’s line through Simon Knox and Turley, and the fullback had a try of his own ruled out on 24 minutes when both he and Martyn were adjudged offside in pursuit of a Duffy kick.

Finally Leigh put things together, scoring twice in five minutes before the interval. Isherwood linked with Turley for his second and both players were involved in a stunning piece of rugby league that incorporated six players, fifty metres, a couple of offloads and straight running to the line from Mike Callan that saw the 19 year old debutant score the first try of his senior career and hand his side a 30-0 lead.

Chorley started the second half well with fullback Lee Patterson racing 50 metres from a scrum only to be halted short by that man Turley. The Lynx moved play quickly to the right and centre Brian Capewell cut inside before Chris Newall added an emphatic finish.

Dave Larder stretched out for a 6th Leigh try on 48 minutes – making the most of Rowley’s quick thinking from a tap penalty but Chorley briefly threatened to make a game of it when fine centreplay from Capewell saw former Widnes threequarter Eddie Kilgannon score in the corner.

Normal service was resumed when substitute Mick Coates fed Turley on the last tackle and his perfectly timed pass created an overlap for Isherwood’s hat-trick on 56 minutes.

Dave McConnell then fed Callan for a second try from close range on the hour and the Centurions finished strongly with three tries in the last 14 minutes. Oliver Wilkes, playing in an unaccustomed prop position scored the first on 67 minutes after Martyn’s huge 40-20.

Turley turned provider once more for Steve Maden to hare in by the corner flag on 69 minutes then just ahead of the final siren Ian Knott scored from the base of a scrum and Turley added his 8th goal from 11 attempts to complete the scoring.

Disappointed Lynx boss Mark Lee commented on the “improved” effort from his team but admitted, “Unless we learn quickly that we can’t keep turning the ball over - we will struggle. We have got to play smarter. Too often we were looking for the miracle ball out of the tackle and you can’t turn cheap ball over against teams like Leigh.”

In contrast Leigh coach Darren Abram was reasonably happy with the performance of his side in “a game that lacked intensity.” He added “I made a few changes. Mike Callan scored two tries and enjoyed it, showing that the exercise was worthwhile. We scored sixty points and only let in ten so that aspect is pleasing.”

GAMESTAR – Neil Turley – Man of the round in last week’s Arriva Cup game, Chorley could do little to combat his creativity and flair as he fashioned six Centurion tries.

GAMEBREAKER – There was no real way back into the game for Chorley after Andrew Isherwood’s first try on 20 minutes but the game was dead as a contest after Isherwood’s hat-trick made it 40-10.


Match Facts:

Centurions

1. Neil Turley
2. Dave Alstead
3. Danny Halliwell
4. Chris Percival
5. Mark McCully
6. John Duffy
7. Tommy Martyn
8. Simon Knox
9. Paul Rowley
10. Oliver Wilkes
11. Dave Larder
12. Andy Isherwood
13. Ian Knott
SUBS
14. Mick Coates
15. Dave McConnell
16. Steve Maden
17. Mike Callan

Tries: Rowley 1 (6), Alstead 1 (12), Isherwood 3 (20, 34,56), Callan 2 (38, 60), Larder 1 (48), Wilkes 1 (67), Maden 1 (69), Knott 1 (79).

Goals: Turley 8/11.

Lynx
1. Lee Patterson
2. Eddie Kilgannon
3. Brian Capewell
4. Mick Redford
5. Gary O’Reagan
6. Anthony Murray
7. Martin Gambles
8. John Hill
9. Martin Roden
10. Simon Smith
11. Gary Smith
12. Gareth Jones
13. Chris Newall
SUBS
14. Lee Rowley
15. Stephen Ormisher
16. Ian Parry
17. Neil Alexander

Tries: Newall 1 (42), Kilgannon 1 (52).

Goals: Capewell 1/2.

Rugby Leaguer and League Express Men of the Match:
Leigh: Neil Turley   Chorley: Ian Parry

Halftime – 30-0 to Leigh.
Referee: Mr G Hewer
Attendance: 1,452 @ the Coliseum at Hilton Park
Scoring Sequence:
6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0 (HT) 30-4, 36-4, 36-10, 40-10, 46-10, 50-10, 54-10, 60-10.