Bonus Point win, at home, to Tarleton.

After an extremely wet week in Leigh, it was touch and go whether this game would go ahead but a pitch inspection, at 10.30 a.m., declared that the match was on. Many thanks to our Grounds Team for making this possible.

Matty Rudd, from the Colts, was drafted into the Squad and made an accomplished debut at scrum half – not his usual position. Well done Matty!

Leigh got the first points on the board, after nine minutes, when Rob Drake slotted a penalty, following several minutes of pressure in the Tarleton 22.

Tarleton were quick to counter this, with a converted try, in the sixteenth minute which they soon added to, nine minutes later, when they finished off a well constructed overlap down the left flank, with their winger going over for another converted try.

Leigh picked themselves up from this assault and worked their way down to the Tarleton end, where Eliot Liku forced his way over the line, from the base of a scrum, just before the break, for an unconverted try. The sides left the field, at half time, with Tarleton leading by fourteen points to eight.

Leigh started the second half strongly and early pressure resulted in a Tarleton player getting a yellow card for an infringement close to his own line.

Leigh were quick to take advantage of this and Eliot Liku picked up and drove over, from a five metre scrum, for his second try of the match, which was converted, from close range, by Rob Drake.

Another dominant Leigh scrum, minutes later, set up the platform for Leigh’s third try of the game. Good hands from the base of the scrum got Jake Westwell over, by the right hand corner flag, for a well engineered but unconverted try.

Leigh 20 Tarleton 14.

Tarleton again countered this when they forced their way over the Leigh line for their third converted try, to take the lead by one point.

The remaining few minutes were very tense, with both sides working hard to secure the win but it was Leigh who were to take the spoils and this they did, with six minutes to play, when good handling got the ball into Jimmy Wilkinson’s hands, who darted over from fifteen metres out, to dot the ball down, wide out on the left.

Four tries and a bonus point win, which puts Leigh into sixth place in the League. Final score Leigh 25 Tarleton 21.

Next week Leigh travel to Northwich to face 5th placed, Winnington Park K.O. 3 p.m.

Correction:

In last week’s report, I incorrectly reported that Elliot Ryan scored Leigh’s third try against Southport. Jonny Drake in fact scored the try. Please accept my apologies for this ghastly error. Failing eyesight and similar haircuts are to blame.