First Team go down at home to Winnington Park.

Leigh entertained Winnington Park yesterday at Hand Lane on the back of a narrow defeat, away to Sefton, last week. Hopes were high for a victory.

Winnington Park (WP) took an early lead, through a penalty, in the seventh minute but Leigh were quick to respond through a well taken try by Jamie King, following good hands across the line.

Rob Drake extended Leigh’s lead to five points, in the twentieth minute, with a penalty. WP narrowed the deficit, with a very well struck penalty from forty metres out but Rob Drake maintained the five points lead, with an equally well struck penalty of his own, from thirty five metres, to take the sides off at the break with Leigh leading by eleven points to six.

WP came out after the break and threw everything they had at Leigh. They were soon rewarded with a penalty, which again was excellently converted, from around thirty-five metres out, to put them within two points of Leigh.

Another penalty, two minutes later, edged them in front but a try, in the fiftieth minute, near to the left hand corner flag, took them out into a six points lead.

A great break from Sam Holgate led to the ball being shipped across to Rob Drake, in the sixty-fifth minute. Rob weaved his magic to dummy and accelerate his way over the line from forty metres out for an excellent try, which he also easily converted, from under the uprights. Leigh 18 WP 17.

Game on with fifteen minutes to play.

WP, however, knew exactly how to close out the game and constant pressure from them earned them two penalties, which were well converted, to take them off as worthy victors, by twenty three points to eighteen.

Another encouraging performance by the Leigh squad, they all gave 110% but unfortunately just came up short again.

Next week Leigh travel to Glossop for what should be another extremely challenging contest.