Lions scare Centurions

THE sighs of relief at the final hooter were as genuine as they were deafening.

The Centurions will be happy to have got their first game and first win under their belts - but apart from that there won't be a lot to look back on and savour.

A couple of vintage touches from Tommy Martyn in the second half saved Leigh from possible embarrassment against a team from a lower division in their first group match of the Arriva Trains Cup. But even they couldn't disguise the overall notion that the Centurions are still a long way from the finished article.

Head coach Darren Abram correctly reflected at full time that he didn't want his team peaking at this stage of the season. But he, and the fans, will demand better than this.

It's early days for Abram's re-shaped team and they will need time and games to knit into a unit capable of pushing for a Super League place. But the careless handling and ill-discipline that littered the first half isn't acceptable. Ten penalties conceded, nine times possession spilled early in the tackle count - those are the sort of statistics that turn coaches grey overnight.

Leigh might be one of the logical favourites both for this trophy and promotion but there's no escaping from the fact that they were outplayed during the first half by opponents with more enthusiasm and better organisation. They were so poor, that only facing a 6-0 deficit at the turnround could be viewed in a positive light. Leigh could look on the bright side that were still in a game they had shown little inclination to win.

What Abram said to his head-bowed squad at half time he refuses to disclose, only saying: "The players knew they had under-performed and I just asked them to respond to what I said to them. I'm pleased with the way they handled the second half and we certainly improved after half time."

Leigh scored 22 unanswered points running into the strong wind in the second half and looked a far more forceful unit after upping the tempo and playing with more pattern and structure than they had shown previously.

Swinton, with a handful of ex-Leythers in their ranks, showed they they won't be a soft touch in their own division this year and gave Leigh more than one anxious moment. Much like Leigh, their attacking execution wasn't up to scratch, but with the likes of Saf Patel, Tau Liku, Wes Rogers and Ian Sinfield dominant in the middle, they will trouble a lot of sides.

"I said to the players all week that Swinton had recruited well and they would be fresh and full of enthusiasm," Abram added. "I never expected to run away with the game and knew we would have to work hard for our win. That proved to be the case."

Looking back at Leigh's first 40 minutes, Abram said: "Our communication was poor and our execution not up to scratch. Without those two basic elements of team play, it's not surprising we struggled. Once we'd fixed that up, we went a lot better."

Leigh owed their victory more to solid teamwork rather than flashy individual brilliance. However, the pack didn't quite dominate as it perhaps should have, John Duffy had an off day and couldn't create too much, and there wasn't much fluency on the flanks.

Dave Bradbury was probably Leigh's best in the pack, Oliver Wilkes again showed great promise in the second row and Dave McConnell made a lot of ground when he started to run out of dummy half. Martyn, although heavily marked, still had enough know-how to set up two tries that turned the tide, and Turley supported enthusiastically and was rewarded with a couple of touchdowns.

Swinton were full value for their 6-0 half time lead and should have had been further ahead considering the amount of pressure they applied and the amount of possession Leigh turned over. But for some inexplainable reason it took 38 minutes before the first points went on the board, Patel scurrying up the right touchline before slipping a ball back inside for Chris Maye to force his way over for a try Paul Ashton converted.

Leigh showed far more urgency after the break and the way their regained possession from the kick off was an indication that they meant business.

McConnell went close a couple of times and within nine minutes they were back on level terms when Martyn delayed a pass long enough to send second rower David Larder charging into open pasture. The defensive line broken, it was a simple job for Larder to find the supporting Turley who crossed behind the posts.

Not long afterwards Turley's nose for a try and Martyn's astute pass turned a 6-0 deficit into a 12-6 lead with Turley knocking over both conversions. When Dan Potter showed some nifty footwork to kick ahead and score after Ian Knott and Heath Cruckshank had done the damage, it could have been expected that Swinton might fold.

But this new pack of Lions dug deep to prevent that happening and, indeed, in the final quarter again gave Leigh more than a run for their money.

Only nine minutes from time could Leigh breath easily when Andy Isherwood went in for their fourth try from Turley's pass.

Scorers: Swinton - Try: Maye (38). Gl: Ashton 1/2.

Centurions - Tries: Turley (50, 56), Potter (60), Isherwood (71). Gls: Turley 3/4.

Swinton Lions: English; Roach, Maye, Llewellyn, Irwin; Ayres, Ashton; Liku, Patel, Rogers, smith, Sinfield, Hodson. Subs (all played): Thorpe, Wingfield, Loughlin, Heaton.

Centurions: Turley; Maden, Potter, Percival, Munro; Duffy, Martyn; Cruckshank, McConnell, Bradbury, Larder, Knott. Subs (all played): Coates, Isherwood, Knox, Marshall.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 14, Swinton 10.

Handling errors: Leigh 16, Swinton 10.

Half time: 0-6

Full time: 22-6

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan).

Attendance 1351.

rMcCONNELL, Turley and Martyn did their bit to pull the match out of the fire but it was Dave Bradbury who repeatedly carried Leigh forward when they needed it most.

rTHE entire first 40 minutes should be written into Leigh's coaching manual as an example of how the game SHOULDN'T be played.

rTHE two touches of class from Martyn that turned a 6-0 deficit into a 12-6 lead and put Leigh on the road to recovery.