NFP RD 22 FEATHERSTONE 18 LEIGH 24
By Dave Parkinson
Back in March, Leigh ground out an important 16-12 home victory over Rovers, a result that contributed to the downfall of then Featherstone coach, Kevin Hobbs.
Four months on this was a key game for both sides, Leigh needed a win to maintain second spot while Featherstone were looking to force their way into the top five after going eight matches unbeaten with impressive wins over Oldham, Barrow and Widnes in the sequence. Leigh named a side that was a little short on preparation due to a flu virus in the camp.
Rovers largest home crowd of the season witnessed an exciting and full blooded game of Rugby League in which both scrum-halves were instrumental. An apprehensive opening by both teams set the tone before Rovers gained the upper hand. Okesene and Amone went close on two occasions with Alan Hadcroft and Keiron Purtill making try saving tackles. Home centre Martin Law was also sent clear by Handley only to be brought back for a forward pass.
Despite their early pressure Featherstone could only register a penalty from the boot of Rooney.
Leigh almost had the first try of the game in the 19th minute when a bone-shaking tackle from Purtill dislodged the ball deep in the Featherstone half and Radney Bowker combined with Ken Kerr to send Paul Wingfield in at the corner. As the Leigh fans celebrated the referee consulted his touch judge and disallowed the score.
Ian Millward then produced his ace card and brought Mick Higham from the bench into the hooking role. This had an almost immediate effect as the young hooker created space and sent the supporting Stuart Donlan over for a converted try in the 24th minute.
Rooney added another penalty before the tricky halfback carved through the defence with a 15 metre arcing run to put Rovers in front.
The Centurions hit back just before the break when Bowker supported Heath Cruckshank's wide running to cross by the posts. Wingfield's conversion gave Leigh an unlikely 12-8 lead.
Missing the influences of Okesene and Amone at the start of the second half, Featherstone were penned in their own territory. Leigh took full advantage in the opening 10 minutes, Purtill was denied a try on the intervention of the touch judge before Bowker grabbed his second try from a Paul Anderson break. The former Saint was also heavily involved in the next scoring move, Wingfield adding the finish to a Kerr offload. The winger converted both tries.
Featherstone replied quickly with Heptinstall darting over from a play the ball after a good spell of pressure.
On the hour Leigh had a third try disallowed before the reintroduction of Okesene brought Rovers back into contention. The Centurions held Rovers at bay for 18 consecutive tackles but spirited Featherstone were unable to break the rearguard, despite the best efforts of hardworking skipper, Slater.
As the game entered the last 10 minutes, exciting winger Jamie Stokes broke away, only to be chased down by Donlan who then completed an equally important tackle on Chapman. With the visitors defence still stretched, Rooney showed vision and pace, chipping through for an opportunist try.
Surprisingly the half-back hooked his conversion attempt wide.
Leigh missed a field goal opportunity and had another charged down, but held on for arguably their most important victory of the season.
Featherstone Rovers: 18
Threequarters: Bramald, Stokes, Law, Coventry, Horsley
Half-backs: Handley, Rooney
Forwards: Okesene, Chapman, Clarkson, Evans, Amone, Slater
Substitutes: Padgett, Lowe, Heptinstall, Dickens
Tries (Mins in brackets)
Rooney (35, 72), Heptinstall (53)
Goals: Rooney 3 (from 5)
were Defeated by
Leigh Centurions: 24
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Hadcroft, Kerr, Ingram
Half-backs: Bowker, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Arkwright, Whittle, Anderson, Cruickshank, Kennedy
Substitutes: Higham, Pucill, Patel, Norman
Tries: (Mins in brackets)
Donlan (24), Bowker (39, 44), Wingfield (50)
Goals: Wingfield 4 (from 4)
Half-time: 12-8 to Leigh.
Attendance: 2145 @ Lionheart Stadium (aka Post Office Road), Featherstone.
Gamestars:
Featherstone: Rooney / Slater - Scrum-half / Loose forward
Leigh: Purtill / Cruickshank - Scrum-half / Second-row forward
Sunday, 10 January 2010
1999 Season Reports: July LEIGH CENTURIONS 34 ROCHDALE HORNETS 20
NFP Rd 21 LEIGH CENTURIONS 34 ROCHDALE HORNETS 20
By Dave Parkinson
A sunbaked crowd saw a sparkling first half of attacking rugby that set Leigh on their way before a spirited Hornets lifted their game in the second half.
18 year old hooker Mike Higham, making his first start for the Centurions and Paul Anderson, a recent loan recruit from Sheffield contributed fully to the game with a try apiece.
The Centurions made a slow start, falling behind to an early penalty from Rochdale halfback Winrow.
Within minutes Leigh went in front when Keiron Purtill sent David Whittle over from a tap-penalty. Phil Kendrick converted before another penalty from Winrow reduced the arrears to just two points.
A neat move down the right wing by former Salford centre Coussons put Eyres clear, only for a tackle by Stuart Donlan and Alan Hadcroft to put the winger over the sideline. From the scrum Leigh worked the ball wide. With the defence still unsettled Higham fed Heath Cruckshank who charged 40 metres and offloaded for Kendrick to outpace the cover and cross by the posts.
Surprisingly, Kendrick missed the kick.
10-4 quickly became 22-4 as Higham ended a freeflowing move and Anderson showed his speed following smart distribution from Radney Bowker.
Hornets almost registered tries when Bunce was bundled out of play in the corner and his impressive centre Cooper was pulled back for a forward pass in another move.
Just before half-time, Rochdale were reduced to 12 men when full-back Bradbury was sinbinned for holding down. Leigh spurned the opportunity of two points and switched play right before Purtill took the ball down the left and Bowker's swerve opened the visitors defence. Kendrick converted and Leigh were cruising at 28-4.
Rochdale started the second half well with prominent charges from Matty Knowles and Danny Sculthorpe before Aston punished slack defence from a tap penalty.
Leigh seemed flat after the double halftime substitution of Higham and Purtill.
The Hornets continued to press, Bunce was again denied by a forward pass while at the other end Donlan had a similar effort disqualified after an inside pass by Murray.
It was left to home skipper, Jamie Kennedy, an industrious performer, to put the result beyond doubt, taking a great pass from Safraz Patel to stride over.
Kendrick added his 5th goal of the game before a late charge from the Hornets resulted in tries to substitute Hudson and hardworking scrum half Kelly.
This result helped Leigh move into 2nd spot again following Hull KR's defeat of Hunslet.
Leigh Centurions: 34
Tries: Whittle, Kendrick, Higham, Anderson, Bowker, Kennedy.
Goals: Kendrick 5 (from 6).
Backs: Donlan, Ingram, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Arkwright.
Halfbacks: Bowker, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Higham, Whittle, Anderson, Cruickshank, Kennedy
Subs: Murray, Halliwell, Patel, Pucill
Defeated
Rochdale Hornets: 20
Tries: Aston, Hudson, Kelly
Goals: Winrow 4 (from 5).
Backs: Bradbury, Eyres, Coussons, Cooper, Bunce
Halfbacks: Winrow, Kelly
Forwards: Knowles, Stephenson, Sculthorpe, Aston, McKinney, Newell.
Subs: Hudson, Marsh, Coult, Robinson.
Attendance: 1568 @ Hilton Park, Leigh.
Gamestars:
Leigh: Kennedy / Higham - Loose Forward / Hooker
Rochdale: Knowles / Cooper - Prop / Centre
By Dave Parkinson
A sunbaked crowd saw a sparkling first half of attacking rugby that set Leigh on their way before a spirited Hornets lifted their game in the second half.
18 year old hooker Mike Higham, making his first start for the Centurions and Paul Anderson, a recent loan recruit from Sheffield contributed fully to the game with a try apiece.
The Centurions made a slow start, falling behind to an early penalty from Rochdale halfback Winrow.
Within minutes Leigh went in front when Keiron Purtill sent David Whittle over from a tap-penalty. Phil Kendrick converted before another penalty from Winrow reduced the arrears to just two points.
A neat move down the right wing by former Salford centre Coussons put Eyres clear, only for a tackle by Stuart Donlan and Alan Hadcroft to put the winger over the sideline. From the scrum Leigh worked the ball wide. With the defence still unsettled Higham fed Heath Cruckshank who charged 40 metres and offloaded for Kendrick to outpace the cover and cross by the posts.
Surprisingly, Kendrick missed the kick.
10-4 quickly became 22-4 as Higham ended a freeflowing move and Anderson showed his speed following smart distribution from Radney Bowker.
Hornets almost registered tries when Bunce was bundled out of play in the corner and his impressive centre Cooper was pulled back for a forward pass in another move.
Just before half-time, Rochdale were reduced to 12 men when full-back Bradbury was sinbinned for holding down. Leigh spurned the opportunity of two points and switched play right before Purtill took the ball down the left and Bowker's swerve opened the visitors defence. Kendrick converted and Leigh were cruising at 28-4.
Rochdale started the second half well with prominent charges from Matty Knowles and Danny Sculthorpe before Aston punished slack defence from a tap penalty.
Leigh seemed flat after the double halftime substitution of Higham and Purtill.
The Hornets continued to press, Bunce was again denied by a forward pass while at the other end Donlan had a similar effort disqualified after an inside pass by Murray.
It was left to home skipper, Jamie Kennedy, an industrious performer, to put the result beyond doubt, taking a great pass from Safraz Patel to stride over.
Kendrick added his 5th goal of the game before a late charge from the Hornets resulted in tries to substitute Hudson and hardworking scrum half Kelly.
This result helped Leigh move into 2nd spot again following Hull KR's defeat of Hunslet.
Leigh Centurions: 34
Tries: Whittle, Kendrick, Higham, Anderson, Bowker, Kennedy.
Goals: Kendrick 5 (from 6).
Backs: Donlan, Ingram, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Arkwright.
Halfbacks: Bowker, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Higham, Whittle, Anderson, Cruickshank, Kennedy
Subs: Murray, Halliwell, Patel, Pucill
Defeated
Rochdale Hornets: 20
Tries: Aston, Hudson, Kelly
Goals: Winrow 4 (from 5).
Backs: Bradbury, Eyres, Coussons, Cooper, Bunce
Halfbacks: Winrow, Kelly
Forwards: Knowles, Stephenson, Sculthorpe, Aston, McKinney, Newell.
Subs: Hudson, Marsh, Coult, Robinson.
Attendance: 1568 @ Hilton Park, Leigh.
Gamestars:
Leigh: Kennedy / Higham - Loose Forward / Hooker
Rochdale: Knowles / Cooper - Prop / Centre
1999 Season Reports: July: WHITEHAVEN 22 LEIGH 16
NFP RD 20 WHITEHAVEN WARRIORS 22 LEIGH CENTURIONS 16
By Dave Parkinson
A determined Warriors side brought an abrupt halt to Leigh's four game winning run with a last gasp victory before a vocal crowd at The Recreation Ground.
Despite missing scrum-half and organiser Leroy Joe due to suspension and skipper Dave Seeds with injury, Whitehaven turned in one of their best displays of the season with Lee Kiddie an influential figure at stand-off and Craig Chambers an eager worker in the pack.
Both teams started apprehensively with Wingfield and Hetherington swapping missed penalty attempts before Kiddie broke the deadlock with an 18th minute touch down, slicing through a static defence from 15 metres. Hetherington converted via the upright.
Leigh replied 6 minutes later when good approach play from Alan Hadcroft and Keiron Purtill saw Safraz Patel dive under the posts for a converted try.
The Centurions pinned the home side deep in their own half with a good spell of pressure before Haven hooker Aaron Lester was sin-binned for a late tackle after Purtill had kicked the ball.
Leigh made their advantage count two minutes later when a planned move from the scrumbase led to scrum-half Purtill darting over in the corner. The Cumbrians were quick to reply when a towering crossfield bomb from Kiddie forced a scrum and former Workington halfback Wayne Kitchen scampered
over. Hetherington again hit the post but his attempt bounced away.
Just before the break Leigh almost imploded when Jame Arkwright fielded an innocuous kick and threw a terrible pass across his own goal face that was fumbled by the usually safe Donlan. As Whitehaven went to
pack down the half-time whistle went and the game was locked at 10-10.
Whitehaven then took the lead in the 55th minute with a penalty before Anthony Murray was sent off for an illegal challenge on kicker Wesley Wilson.
Despite having to alter their pattern with injuries to Nick Jenkins and Patel (and the sending off), Leigh almost took the lead but Dave Ingram failed to collect a pass from Purtill following a storming midfield break by Street.
Ingram bombed a second chance when bundled into touch before it was third time lucky for the Leigh centre in the 68th minute, taking the scoring pass from the in form Purtill.
A moment earlier Whitehaven were again reduced to 12 men with Lewthwaite sin-binned for holding down.
The Warriors piled forward, determined to avenge their narrow loss to the Centurions earlier in the season. Wilson reaped the rewards, snatching the ball from Burrows to cross in the corner for a 79th minute try. Hetherington missed the kick and the game looked destined for a draw.
Whitehaven had other ideas and were awarded a scrum on half-way after a fumbled Leigh penalty. Kiddie spotted all the defenders close to the scrum and launched a deep kick for his backline to chase.
Mark Burrows looked to be in control of the situation but the winger could only look on in horror as he parried the deceiving bounce into the grateful arms of Lewthwaite, making up for his earlier indiscretion with the matchwinning try. Hetherington converted from the touchline to send the Haven fans home delighted.
Whitehaven Warriors: 22
Threequarters: Wilson, Frazer, K. Hetherington, Lynch, Lewthwaite,
Halfbacks: Kiddie, Kitchin
Forwards: Cox, Lester, Fatialofa, Chambers, Morton, Bone
Subs: Purdham, Walsh, G. Hetherington, Suafoa
Tries: (Mins in brackets)
Kiddie (18), Kitchin (38), Wilson (79), Lewthwaite (80).
Goals: G Hetherington 3 (from 5)
Defeated
Leigh Centurions: 16
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Hadcroft, Ingram, Arkwright
Halfbacks: Patel, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Jenkins, Whittle, Kendrick, Cruickshank, Kennedy
Subs: Murray, Pucill, Burrows, Liku
Tries: (Mins in brackets)
Patel (24), Purtill (34), Ingram (68)
Goals: Wingfield 2 (from 5)
Halftime: 10-10
Attendance: 953 @ The Recreation Ground, Whitehaven.
Gamestars:
Whitehaven: Kiddie / Chambers.
Leigh: Purtill / Street.
By Dave Parkinson
A determined Warriors side brought an abrupt halt to Leigh's four game winning run with a last gasp victory before a vocal crowd at The Recreation Ground.
Despite missing scrum-half and organiser Leroy Joe due to suspension and skipper Dave Seeds with injury, Whitehaven turned in one of their best displays of the season with Lee Kiddie an influential figure at stand-off and Craig Chambers an eager worker in the pack.
Both teams started apprehensively with Wingfield and Hetherington swapping missed penalty attempts before Kiddie broke the deadlock with an 18th minute touch down, slicing through a static defence from 15 metres. Hetherington converted via the upright.
Leigh replied 6 minutes later when good approach play from Alan Hadcroft and Keiron Purtill saw Safraz Patel dive under the posts for a converted try.
The Centurions pinned the home side deep in their own half with a good spell of pressure before Haven hooker Aaron Lester was sin-binned for a late tackle after Purtill had kicked the ball.
Leigh made their advantage count two minutes later when a planned move from the scrumbase led to scrum-half Purtill darting over in the corner. The Cumbrians were quick to reply when a towering crossfield bomb from Kiddie forced a scrum and former Workington halfback Wayne Kitchen scampered
over. Hetherington again hit the post but his attempt bounced away.
Just before the break Leigh almost imploded when Jame Arkwright fielded an innocuous kick and threw a terrible pass across his own goal face that was fumbled by the usually safe Donlan. As Whitehaven went to
pack down the half-time whistle went and the game was locked at 10-10.
Whitehaven then took the lead in the 55th minute with a penalty before Anthony Murray was sent off for an illegal challenge on kicker Wesley Wilson.
Despite having to alter their pattern with injuries to Nick Jenkins and Patel (and the sending off), Leigh almost took the lead but Dave Ingram failed to collect a pass from Purtill following a storming midfield break by Street.
Ingram bombed a second chance when bundled into touch before it was third time lucky for the Leigh centre in the 68th minute, taking the scoring pass from the in form Purtill.
A moment earlier Whitehaven were again reduced to 12 men with Lewthwaite sin-binned for holding down.
The Warriors piled forward, determined to avenge their narrow loss to the Centurions earlier in the season. Wilson reaped the rewards, snatching the ball from Burrows to cross in the corner for a 79th minute try. Hetherington missed the kick and the game looked destined for a draw.
Whitehaven had other ideas and were awarded a scrum on half-way after a fumbled Leigh penalty. Kiddie spotted all the defenders close to the scrum and launched a deep kick for his backline to chase.
Mark Burrows looked to be in control of the situation but the winger could only look on in horror as he parried the deceiving bounce into the grateful arms of Lewthwaite, making up for his earlier indiscretion with the matchwinning try. Hetherington converted from the touchline to send the Haven fans home delighted.
Whitehaven Warriors: 22
Threequarters: Wilson, Frazer, K. Hetherington, Lynch, Lewthwaite,
Halfbacks: Kiddie, Kitchin
Forwards: Cox, Lester, Fatialofa, Chambers, Morton, Bone
Subs: Purdham, Walsh, G. Hetherington, Suafoa
Tries: (Mins in brackets)
Kiddie (18), Kitchin (38), Wilson (79), Lewthwaite (80).
Goals: G Hetherington 3 (from 5)
Defeated
Leigh Centurions: 16
Threequarters: Donlan, Wingfield, Hadcroft, Ingram, Arkwright
Halfbacks: Patel, Purtill
Forwards: Street, Jenkins, Whittle, Kendrick, Cruickshank, Kennedy
Subs: Murray, Pucill, Burrows, Liku
Tries: (Mins in brackets)
Patel (24), Purtill (34), Ingram (68)
Goals: Wingfield 2 (from 5)
Halftime: 10-10
Attendance: 953 @ The Recreation Ground, Whitehaven.
Gamestars:
Whitehaven: Kiddie / Chambers.
Leigh: Purtill / Street.
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