Leigh go down in first game of the New Year

The first game of the New Year brought high hopes of a turnaround in Leigh’s fortunes but a clinical performance by Bolton soon put paid to that.

Leigh put together several good phases early in the match and were rewarded for their efforts when Rob Drake took them into a three points lead, with a well struck penalty.

The chunky and quick Bolton side, however, were soon to regroup and good hands by their backs created an overlap, down their right flank, which they finished off with a try, about ten metres in from touch. 3 – 5.

They added a penalty on thirty minutes to extend their lead to five points but rounded off the half with another well taken, converted try close to the Leigh sticks to take the teams off with Bolton leading by fifteen points to three at the break.

Bolton came out with all guns firing in the second half and their strong, direct running and offloading game produced two more tries for them by the seventieth minute.

Leigh continued to work hard and defended bravely throughout and were rewarded for their tenacity when Osh Griffiths seized on a loose ball on the half way line to put winger, Alex Owens, in space, for him to sprint away from fifty metres out for a well taken, unconverted try.

Bolton, however, soon worked their way back down the pitch and crashed over for their final try of the match, in the seventy eighth minute, to earn themselves a well deserved bonus point win.

Final score Leigh 8 Bolton 32.