Centurions storm to Victory...

Mike Hulme reports from Victory Park

WITH a crop of big games looming large on the Centurion's horizon, coach Paul Terzis has got some tough decisions to make.

Chris Irwin, Paul Anderson, John Hamilton, Andy Isherwood and Simon Knox all made sure of that in the destruction of Chorley.

None of the five are assured of places in Leigh's regular starting 13, but now they've staked their claims in no uncertain manner. And nobody could be happier that he's got a selection dilemma than coach Paul Terzis.

"Those five certainly showed what qualities they've got and it's given me plenty of food for thought," he says.

And with games against fellow NFP challengers Workington and Huddersfield either side of the Wigan Challenge Cup tie, the form of Irwin, Anderson, Hamilton, Isherwood and Knox couldn't have come at a better time.

On an afternoon when Leigh's 12 tries were shared by just four players, Irwin bagged four, Anderson and Isherwood hat-tricks apiece and Neil Turley a couple. But it wasn't the size of Leigh's biggest-ever win over Chorley that pleased Terzis most, it was the manner it was achieved.

And part of that is down to the excellent playing surface at Victory Park.

"Although we always try to adapt to the conditions, it was nice to get out on our first dry track of the season. I think our football improved because the conditions were good," Terzis acknowledged.

Irwin and Co certainly made the most of it once Leigh had doused Chorley's early fire.

With five ex-Leigh players in the Lynx line-up it was always going to be an interesting afternoon. Tim Street was his usual aggressive self and Michael Watts was exceptional at full-back. Saf Patel and Chris Causey took delight in scoring against their old club but Andy Grundy soured his performance by being involved in the incident that broke Lee Sanderson's jaw in two places.

Irwin's finishing on the right wing was exceptional and Anderson, one of Leigh's major strike players who had gone all season without a try, bagged three to do his confidence the world of good.

If the form of Irwin and Anderson was good, Hamilton and Isherwood were even a notch or two higher.

Hooker Hamilton, in for the rested Paul Rowley, absolutely dominated the middle of the park. His defence was sound but it was his penetration, especially away from the rucks, that ripped Chorley apart. Isherwood's running was awesome and he would have had four tries but for being cut down by Watts right on the line after a 60 metre dash.

Then there was Knox. In his first game for over a month the Cumbrian front-rower showed why clubs rate him so highly. His punishing defensive work and ability to off-load in the tackle adds another weapon to Leigh's considerable armoury.

"That's why we brought those players to the club, because they have all the qualities we are looking for," Terzis pointed out.

While Leigh's attack was back to something like it's sharpest, defensive concerns remain. The way Chorley picked up three soft tries underlined the fact that there's plenty of room for improvement.

B ut the team just keeps on winning. They are still the only unbeaten side in the NFP and never looked like losing that tag despite Chorley making things awkward in the first quarter. Once Leigh were into their stride, they never looked back.

Chorley should have drawn first blood but Paul Wilcock sent a penalty shot wide after Rob Ball had been pulled up for a high shot on Street but Leigh hit the front after nine minutes when Anderson's break gave Isherwood the chance to burst through two defenders and flop over the line. Turley converted.

A Wilcock penalty pegged Leigh back to 6-2 but when Simon Baldwin's pass put Isherwood into open pasture, Anderson was on his inside to break his season's duck. Turley made it 12-2.

From the re-start Leigh were caught out, turning possession over. After Patel's surge for the line was stopped, hooker Matt Bellamy rode a couple of tackles to wriggle under the bar for a try converted by Wilcock.

In a nine minute spell Leigh turned on the style to score five more tries and put the match to bed.

Turley put Isherwood in again; clever play on the touchline from Hamilton sent Irwin racing over; Hamilton repeated the dose to get Turley in from 40 metres and Hamilton completed a hat-trick of assists by linking with Phil Kendrick for Irwin to claim his second.

Anderson's second was a bit of a fluke. Adam Bristow's penalty for touch was palmed infield by unlucky Lynx winger Alan Redicliffe and straight to Anderson who only had to collect and trot 20 metres to the whitewash.

Leigh let themselves down again just seconds before half time when they allowed Causey to stretch through a two-man tackle for Chorley's second try.

The interval lead of 40-12 was quickly advanced to 46-12 when Grundy's wild pass on half way was hacked on by Irwin to complete his treble.

Patel came up with one of his favourite party-pieces when he ripped the ball out of Eric Andrews' grasp and strolled through to the posts unchallenged to score Chorley's third try.

The loss of Sanderson with a broken jaw might have put a dampener on things but it didn't stop some champagne rugby.

Irwin intercepted Causey's aimless pass and accepted the gift for his fourth; Anderson shrugged off three tackle to complete his treble and Isherwood took his personal tally to three when he showed electric pace to beat Watts on the outside and scramble over at the corner.

Five minutes from time one of Leigh's favoured plays worked like a charm. Sub Simon Svabic kicking deep directly from a scrum and the eager Turley off like a hare to dribble ahead and claim his second.

Turley, who landed seven of his first eight shots at goal, failed with his final four but still collected 22 points.

match facts

SCORERS: Leigh - Tries: Irwin 4 (26, 33, 41, 52); Anderson 3 (17, 29, 61); Isherwood 3 (9, 24, 65); Turley 2 (31, 75). Gls: Turley 7 from 12.

Chorley - Tries: Bellamy (18), Causey (39), Patel (46). Gls: Wilcock 3 from 5.

LEIGH: Turley; Irwin, Anderson, Kendrick, Andrews; Swann, Sanderson; Ball, Hamilton, Price, Baldwin, Isherwood, Bristow. Subs: Knox (for Price 21), Norman (for Ball 26), Svabic (for Sanderson 49), Bradbury (for Baldwin HT), Ball (for Bristow 66).

CHORLEY: Watts, Redicliffe, Ramsdale, Kilgannon, Wilcock; Patel, Robinson; Street, Bellamy, Parry, Causey, Hamilton, Bloor. Subs: Grundy (for Parry 40), Smith (Ramsdale 17), Killock (for Hamilton 23), Badham (for Causey 59), Parry (for Grundy 72).

PENALTIES CONCEDED: Leigh 9, Chorley 7.

HANDLING ERRORS: Leigh 10, Chorley 6.

REFEREE: Colin Morris (Huddersfield)

ATTENDANCE: 1324.

Man of the match

rIMPOSSIBLE to split Hamilton and Isherwood. Performances like that will have one or two looking over their shoulders. Honourable mentions for Irwin, Turley, Knox and Norman.

Magic Moment

rHAMILTON'S pleading with referee Morris not to red card Tim Street after the hooker had coped a high shot from his former front row mate. An instinctive and heart-warming moment.

Moan of the match

THE failure of any or all of the officials to stop play when Sanderson was clearly badly injured. The 1,300 on the terraces and 26 players could see he was in distress. They appear not to have seen the incident either, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that they can't also spot a player in trouble with a serious head injury.