LEIGH RESERVES 30 GREAT BRITAIN COMMUNITY LIONS 22 - 24th February.
By Dave Parkinson.
While the Reserves may have ultimately been overwhelmed a few days earlier at Wigan, an altogether closer game took place at Leigh East last night.
In a competitive friendly it was Leigh’s young bucks overcame a spirited performance by some of the best players in the amateur game.
The Centurions scored first after seven minutes when the impressive Ian Mort touched down in support of Craig Briscoe after a lovely pass by Keiron Eccleston. Mort also added the first of five goals. Leigh saw a try from Gareth Melling disallowed and the amateur side hit back quickly when Paul Pendlebury did all the running for skipper Gavin Corfield to touch down in the corner.
Melling dived in on 18 minutes following good work from Martyn Ridyard and Mort, whose boot made it 12-4 from a wide angle.
Tony Baker then nabbed something of a controversial try and the Lions were really roaring after 32 minutes when Paul Hunt took a Gary Middlehurst pass at pace to score and Anthony Atherton’s goal made it 16-12 in the visitors favour.
Just before the break, Ryan O’Toole powered over and a straight-forward conversion handed Leigh a narrow interval lead.
James Riches made a welcome return for the Centurions but he was sent to the sinbin for a tackle in an offside position after 48 minutes.
Surprisingly in his absence, Leigh forged further ahead when Andy Ainscough touched down from close range with Mort again accurate with the kick. The Lions then saw Kevin Thompson sinbinned for a swinging arm tackle and neither side could really take advantage.
Centurion Substitute Ryan Liptrot scored the decisive try after 65 minutes and Mort’s conversion made the gap 16 points. Although the Community Lions pulled a try back ten minutes from time through former Leigh Academy centre Lee Gittens, the Centurions tackled well to close out the game and claim a hard-won victory.
Leigh: Ian Mort (1T 5G), Gareth Thomas, Dean Dollin, Jonathan Pownall, Gareth Melling (1T); Martyn Ridyard, Keiron Eccleston; Andy Ainscough (1T), Anthony Griffiths, Sam Hopkins, Adam Higson, Craig Briscoe, Dale Cunniffe.
Subs: Anthony Nicholson, Adam Jones, Ryan O'Toole (1T), Josh Rogerson, Charlie Storey, Sean Macdonald, James Riches, Ryan Liptrot (1T).
GB Community Lions: Paul Pendlebury (St Judes), Wayne Leyland (Ince Rose Bridge), Gavin Corfield (1T) (St Judes), Carl Redford (Leigh East), Anthony Atherton (3G) (St Pats); Ryan Smith (Leigh Miners), Tony Baker (1T) (Ince Rose Bridge); Mark Troughton (Wath Brow), Steve McDermott (Halton Simms Cross), Anthony Gallea (St Pats), Kevin Thompson (Wath Brow), Martin Shea (Thatto Heath), Paul Hunt (1T) (Halton Simms Cross).
Subs: Steve Bennett (St Pats), Lee Gittens (1T) (Leigh Miners), Scott Winstanley (Ince Rose Bridge), Gary Middlehurst (Leigh East).
Referee: Mr G Stokes
Halftime: 18-16 to Leigh.
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