LEIGH lost the game . . . but won back the fans.

Just a week after being jeered off the field, the side was given a standing ovation after coming within a whisker of snatching an unlikely victory.

But that was scant consolation for coach Norman Turley and his players.

"How can a team put so much effort in and come out with nothing?" asked Turley after Sunday's 34-28 home loss to Swinton. I always knew this team was capable of performances like that. I'm gutted for the lads they've nothing to show for it."

Leigh lost but they do have something to show. They won back their credibility and self-respect. Even Swinton coach Les Holliday knew his side was lucky to get away with maximum points. "All credit to Leigh, they probably deserved at least a point," he acknowledged.

One man alone made sure the Lions went home with full pay packets - Aussie winger Gavin Price-Jones.

He saved them with a flying cover tackle on Phil Kendrick with just four minutes left. Kendrick seemed a certain scorer until Price-Jones cut him down a foot short.

Leigh's final chance of at least a point had gone. "It looked all over a try," confirmed Turley. "I still can't believe he didn't score."

When Swinton led 34-22 with 16 minutes left, it looked like Leigh had blown their chance.

But, when Anthony Murray and Radney Bowker linked on the left and Kendrick went in for a try goaled by Paul Wingfield, the scene was set for a thrilling finale.

Leigh had led 6-0 early on when Jason Donohue scampered over for the first of his two tries but were then rocked as the Lions hit them with three quick touchdowns.

Tim Street and Kendrick then set up Bowker for a try and Leigh went in at the break just 16-12 down.

The Lions scored again a minute after the break, but, when Paul Hulme was sin-binned, Leigh blasted in for 10 points.

Front rowers Street and Andy Pucill combined to send Murray in for his 11th of the season and Donohue muscled his way over to give Leigh a 22-20 lead.

But they couldn't hang on.

Despite a sixth successive defeat, however, Leigh can take heart.

Street and Pucill were magnificent in the front row and Andy Grundy and John Costello weren't far behind. And, with the pack setting the platform, we saw the best of half-backs Kieron Purtill and Donohue.

"We need to repeat that sort of domination in the weeks ahead," declared Turley. "If we do, and smarten up our defence, we'll start to win games again."

LEIGH: Bowker; Wingfield, Donlan, Kendrick, Hill; Purtill, Donohue; Street, Murray, Pucill, Norman, Grundy, Costello. Subs: Garces, Hudspith, Gunning, Sarsfield.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.