Shepherd double sinks Carlisle but keeps Leigh afloat.

Leigh set off for Wigton yesterday to play Carlisle, with only one thing on their minds – a victory was needed to keep their place in North One West for next season and they managed it.

The game got off to a fast and furious start with the desperate Carlisle team throwing all that they had at Leigh, for the first ten minutes but Leigh stood firm and repelled their relentless pressure.

On a rare foray into the Carlisle half after 14 minutes, Leigh won an attacking scrum and cleverly worked an overlap on the right for Ollie Shepherd to step his way over the line for a try which was brilliantly converted by Elliott Ryan.

The remainder of the half was all about Carlisle attacking and Leigh defending, which they both did very well. Carlisle were eventually rewarded for all their hard work when they converted a penalty on the stroke of half time to take the teams off at the break with Leigh leading 7 points to 3.

Carlisle came out with all guns blazing again in the second half and were soon to take the lead through a converted try, following good work by their forwards, close to the Leigh line.

Leigh were quick to counter this and within five minutes responded when, after good approach work by the forwards, they created space for Ollie Shepherd to dive over in the right hand corner for his second try of the match. Elliott Ryan slotted a magnificent conversion from the touchline to put Leigh four points in front with half an hour to play.

The next half an hour was probably the hardest half an hour of Leigh’s season. Carlisle had all the possession and they peppered the Leigh lines but Leigh kept their shape and more importantly, kept their discipline and it took two excellent tackles by Rob Drake and Elliott Ryan to keep Carlisle at bay.

When Chris Boyle turned over the ball in the last play of the game, all the Leigh players and spectators heaved a huge sigh of relief when Alex Middleton-Adams kicked the ball 50 yards towards his own line, into touch, to bring the game to a conclusion and to cement Leigh’s place in this League for next season’s campaign.

This was a remarkable display by all of the Leigh squad and it would be unfair to single out any individual players for their efforts in this victory – it truly was a team triumph. This has been a remarkable second half of the season and the Club’s thanks must go out to all the people involved in achieving this brilliant turnaround, seven wins out of the last ten games has been a tremendous effort.

Next week Leigh entertain Penrith at Hand Lane before travelling to Kendal on 23rd April. The final game of the season will be at home against Vale of Lune on 30th April.

Nothing to lose now…..