First Team lose another crucial game

Leigh travelled to Red Rocks yesterday to play their old friends and rivals, West Park (St. Helens) in what was a ‘must win’ game for both sides in their bitter struggle for survival in North One West. It was West Park who were to emerge victorious.

West Park took an early lead through a penalty, on five minutes, for a Leigh offside but Leigh were quick to counter this through a Rob Drake break which found Jimmy Wilkinson in close support, for him to scorch away for an excellent try under the sticks, which was duly converted by Elliott Ryan.

West Park, however, replied immediately when they dummied and jinked their way down their right wing to score an unconverted try, wide out.

Leigh retook the lead, on fifteen minutes, through an Elliott Ryan penalty and then extended their lead, on thirty minutes, when a spilled West Park ball near halfway was collected by Marcus Morris-Williams, who cleverly drew the West Park defence, to put Alex Leadbetter away to score another try, which was converted by Elliott Ryan. West Park 8 Leigh 17.

West Park regrouped and rumbled their way back down to the Leigh end where they were awarded a converted, penalty try when their rolling maul was pulled down by the Leigh defence.

Leigh pulled away again through another Elliott Ryan penalty but West Park finished the half in front, when, on the stroke of half time, they scored a well crafted and converted try under the Leigh uprights to take the sides off with West Park leading by twenty two points to twenty.

West Park continued their ascent after half time and soon added another converted try, in the forty third minute, to stretch their lead to nine points.

A penalty by Elliott Ryan, on sixty minutes, narrowed the deficit to six points but a penalty by West Park after sixty five minutes, restored their nine point lead which they defended manfully to emerge as worthy winners, picking up an invaluable bonus point along the way.

Final score West Park 32 Leigh 23.

Again, the lads played their hearts out but not with any purposeful direction and their discipline must greatly improve because yesterday they were marched back several times by the referee when they were in good attacking positions.

Next week is free but the week after, 4th March, they play Vale of Lune at Hand Lane K.O. 3 p.m. (Please note the change in Kick Off Time).