Aspatria 7 Leigh 3

Leigh lost their grip on the pole position of the league in a very close fought match at Aspatria.

Gale force conditions made this contest something of a lottery with the wind swirling around the pitch.
Despite the long haul to Aspatria coupled with the wind ripping the roof vent off the coach and almost decapitating several of the travelling supporters (demanding urgent repairs before any headway could be made) it was Leigh who started the game in dominant fashion after a delayed start keeping the home side deep in their own twenty two for long periods.
Apart from a penalty struck by Rob Drake, Leigh had very little reward to show for their first half endeavors. Perhaps a little more control when the try line is in sight would benefit Leigh's game.

The second half saw the homesters up the tempo of their game to test Leigh's resilient defensive qualities,
Leigh were not found wanting in this department with some strong tackling keeping them at bay.
Again as in the first half Leigh had numerous chances to win the game but failed to finish them off. Mid way into the second half Leigh's frustration began to show when penalties against them were racked up with alarming regularity,
Aspatria used these indiscretions very well kicking deep into the Leigh twenty two .

Once there a series of controlled mauls which led to even more penalties had them battering away at Leigh's try line.
Leighs problems took a turn for the worse when their second yellow card of the day, this one to skipper Iain Wood, put Leigh a man down. Unopposed scrums resulted.
A couple more penalties, and in the seventy sixth minute the inevitable penalty try ended the match seven three in Aspatria's favour.

Leigh supporters who travelled to the game would like to express their thanks for the hospitality shown to them by Aspartia RUFC.

Derek LeakeSnr (PressOfficer)