Convincing away win at Winnington Park

Leigh travelled to Winnington Park yesterday, with a slightly different squad, which included Andrew Philbin, for his first ever outing in a Rugby Union shirt. He fitted in a treat and you would never have guessed.

Early pressure from Leigh earned them a penalty, in the third minute and Rob Drake stepped up to the plate, to add the three points.

The next points for Leigh came from yet another Rob Drake touch of class, which saw him dance his way through, in the eighth minute, for a brilliant finish, which he duly converted.

Winnington Park replied with a penalty, in the fifteenth minute but another Rob Drake penalty, on thirty minutes, restored the margin. This was augmented, five minutes before the break, when Leigh created space down the left hand channel for Joe Harrison to dive over, after backing up well, for an unconverted try.

Half time Winnington Park 3 Leigh 18.

Winnington Park forced their way over, early in the second half, for an unconverted try and Leigh were reduced to fourteen men, a few minutes later, when a yellow card was produced for a high tackle.

This, however, did nothing to faze Leigh and they diligently worked their way up to the Winnington Park end, where, after several phases of play, a long pass found Jamie King in space, on the left wing, for him to accelerate and dive over for a well constructed try.

Winnington Park rallied and caught Leigh napping with a surprise try, from a quickly taken tap penalty, to narrow the deficit to ten points.

Leigh were soon down to fourteen men again, following another yellow card but this did not hold Leigh back and their excellent defence forced Winnington Park to spill a ball which Jimmy Wilkinson pounced on, to scorch his way over from fifty metres out, to score a brilliant individual effort, under the Winnington Park uprights. Rob Drake added the extras.

The final nail in Winnington Park’s coffin was hammered in, two minutes later, when Jimmy Wilkinson broke away again, from forty metres out, to wend his way over, for another blistering finish. Rob Drake’s attempt at the conversion, unfortunately, bounced back off the upright and proved to be the final action of the day.

Final score Winnington Park 13 Leigh 35.

This was an outstanding performance from Leigh, who played 50% of the second half with fourteen men but still managed to add three more tries, along the way and keep Winnington Park at bay.

Next week, Leigh entertain 10th placed, Cumbrian side Aspatria, at Hand Lane.