Leigh RUFC 31-10 Rochdale RUFC

LEIGH RUFC 31-10 ROCHDALE RUFC

Both sides had early periods of pressure, but Leigh began to gain the ascendency, and secured a line-out in the visitors quarter. A perfectly executed catch and drive saw the home side open the scoring with skipper Iain Wood awarded the try. Elliot Ryan hit the post with the difficult conversion.

Leigh were now in command and again made progress into the 22. This time the ball was moved off the top of the line through half-back David Wood to their big back-row Calvin Crompton, who burst through the defence and cut inside the full-back to score under the black dot. Ryan converted for a twelve point lead.

Rochdale however, are dogged battlers and worked their way back into the game. Firstly they kicked a penalty by centre Coldman, then a try from giant prop Saparamadu, after sustained pressure on the Leigh line.
Rochdale started the second period strongly, and forced Leigh onto the back foot.

They continued to take the scrum option at penalty time, but the home side refused to buckle. As the game moved into the later stages, Leigh regained their composure and took command. Anthony Bentham came off the bench and danced though a retreating defence after a strong forward surge, for a converted try. He then provided the opening on half way, with a clever cross kick fielded by Ross Shepherd. The winger cut infield beautifully and sent fellow wing man Adam Dyson under the posts, for the bonus point score.

The final score of the game proved the highlight for the home crowd, when centre Jermaine Allen scattered the defence and raced seventy metres to the corner to end the game in some style.