First Team go down fighting.

Leigh entertained prospective table toppers, Birkenhead Park, yesterday and sadly had their hopes dented, before the match, when two players were declared unavailable at the eleventh hour. Urgent changes had to be made to the squad, which unfortunately caused repercussions throughout the Club.

However, the game got off to a fast and furious start and it was Birkenhead who got the first points of the game, on 5 minutes, when they slotted a penalty for a Leigh player kicking the ball away after the whistle had been blown. The Leigh player was promptly sin binned for ten minutes for his indiscretion.

Fortunately for Leigh, they were not punished much for this infringement and whilst the player was off, the two sides just traded penalties with Elliott Ryan kicking two to one from Birkenhead.

Leigh 6 Birkenhead 6.

Leigh took the lead on 34 minutes through another Elliott Ryan penalty and he was very unlucky with a further two attempts soon afterwards which narrowly missed their mark – these extra six points would have taken Leigh off at half time in front.

It was not to be and instead Birkenhead capitalised and went over from a catch and drive play at a lineout to score a converted try in the last minute of the half just after another Leigh player had been sin binned for an offence at the breakdown.

Half–time Leigh 9 Birkenhead 13.

Leigh came out of the traps well after the break and were rewarded for their good approach work when Andy Newton, bravely and powerfully, drove over the line, wide out on the left, to push Leigh into a 14 – 13 lead.

Birkenhead re-grouped and replied with two well-constructed, converted tries wide out on the left to take them into a thirteen-point lead.

Leigh battled back and an interception by Jimmy Wilkinson, near the half way line, allowed him to scorch away for a well taken try on the 75th minute with Elliott Ryan stepping up again to add the conversion. Six points were now between the sides.

Unfortunately, Birkenhead produced the killer punch, with two minutes to go, when a brilliant chip through found their left winger in space to dive over for their final try, which was again very well converted from wide out on the left.

Birkenhead tagged on a final three points in the last minute through a penalty under the Leigh posts to secure their bonus point win which puts them in 3rd
position in the League behind Kirkby Lonsdale and Northwich.

Final Score Leigh 21 Birkenhead Park 37.

This was a much-improved performance by Leigh and their work rate in defence was especially praiseworthy. They pressurised and turned Birkenhead Park from the off and were very unlucky not to come away with more from this match. Well-done lads.

Next week Leigh travel away to take on Wilmslow, who are currently sitting in 6th position in the League – six places above Leigh.