LEIGH CENTURIONS 28 SWINTON LIONS 34

LEIGH have a habit of raising their game whenever they play the Lions and Sunday's (June 14) fierce clash at Hilton Park was no different.

Both sets of prop forwards in particular seemed intent on doing as much damage as possible to their opposite numbers.

As early as the eighth minute, Tim Street had to be spoken to for a punch on Paul Hulme. This was after Gavin Price-Jones had made a superb 30 metre clearance from his own line after a dangerous Centurions kick.

Gartland had the first opportunity to put points on the board but his penalty went wide after Leigh stole the ball from Ian Blease in a tackle.

The Lions seemed to struggle to get to the half way line in the next set of six. Having turned the ball over well inside their own half Jason Donohue went racing away for a try under the posts. Paul Wingfield added the simple conversion.

Swinton hit back with three tries in nine minuites.

A good run by Tony Barrow up the left saw the ball whizz across to Jim Evans who jinked his way over. Gartland levelled with the goal.

Price-Jones then crossed in the corner after Paul Barrow seemed to have lost his way infront of the Leigh posts.

However his pass to Gartland saw the stand off put an inch perfect pass into space for Price-Jones to pounce.

Andy Coley came on the field for Gareth Adams after 26 minutes and with his first touch of the ball he weaved his way under the posts for a try just 20 seconds after leaving the bench.

Gartland's conversion gave the Lions a 16-6 lead.

Radney Bowker then went in for a try despite a suspect forward pass in the lead up move.

Wingfield's conversion brought Leigh to within four points.

Six minutes from the break Evans knocked on infront of his own posts but the Lions managed to hold out for the next six tackles.

They then finished the half strongly with Bowker twice having to clear the ball over his own dead ball line.

The Lions opened the second half in scintillating fashion. A great break by Jimmy Veikoso up the right wing saw him tackled 10 metres out, the ball went across to the left through Ian Watson, Paul Barrow and Sean Casey for Andy Craig to touch down in the opposite corner.

Then it was Leigh's turn to worry Swinton. Hulme was sin binned on 46 minutes for obstruction. Within seconds Andy Pucill made a superb run to the posts and with a neat short pass put hooker Anthony Murray in for the try. Wingfield's conversion narrowed the gap to two points. Hulme must have been ruing his action when Donohue scooted over for his second try of the game just after Evans had lost the ball in his own quarter.

Leigh were back in front but Wingfield's conversion struck the upright.

On the sixth tackle, and at the other end, Casey, Watson and Gartland kept the ball alive for Paul Barrow to cross near the posts. With the conversion Gartland made it 26-22 to the Lions.

Four minutes later Veikoso stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle and to rub salt into Leigh's wounds Donohue was penalised for offside which Gartland goaled.

The try of the match came 15 minutes from the end when Casey worked the ball to the right corner and some quick passing between himself and Price-Jones saw Watson dive in for a try near the corner flag. Gartland's conversion from the touchline was a beauty.

With 12 minutes remaining, Leigh worked a five-to-one overlap on the wing and Bowker got Phil Kendrick over which Wingfield converted to make it 34-28.

Casey was wide with a drop goal attempt for the Lions as Swinton seemed to do their utmost to hand Leigh the game on a plate.

It took a superb Price-Jones tackle on Kendrick, inches short of the line, to save the Swinton blushes.

Les Holliday was not very happy with his team's performance despite a much-needed two points in the bag.

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