HAWCOURT PARK 12 LEIGH 17

Travelling up the M6 for yet another long distance fixture, Leigh were fortunate to notch up a victory when they clashed with a more than useful Cumbrian side.
Leigh with three of their front line props injured were forced into making the necessary positional changes.
Starting well, Leigh were quickly on the offensive securing quality ball which allowed the Leigh three quarters to show their paces. Seven minutes on the clock and the inform Ryan McKinstry powered his way over for a try converted by Rob Drake.
The home side then took charge of the match playing a controlled tight game which starved Leigh of possession. It was on the cards that the Leigh line was going to be breached and the inevitable try came after twenty eight minutes.
Leigh answered back with a Rob Drake penalty putting them ten three to the good. Right on half time a defensive error by Leigh gifted Hawcourt seven points.

The second half was a dour mistake riddled affair with once again the home side dictating position and possession.
Leigh flanker Paul Trumble left the field with a facial injury and the pack had to re-shuffle with Daniel Hunter entering the fray at prop forward. Mister versatility Steve Millard moving into the back row.

To say that Leigh were under the cosh was to put it mildly. Camped in the Leigh twenty two going through countless phases only desperate tackling by the Hand Lane outfit kept their line intact.

On a rare visit into the Park's territory, Leigh were awarded a penalty, Rob Drake hit the post with the ball bouncing back into play, scrambled defence and a knock on by the home side gave Leigh a five metre scrum.
Down to fourteen men, David Penn being yellow carded, Leigh wisely opted to use eight forwards and with an excellent display of controllled scrummaging drove the opposition backwards. Graham Robinson then touched the ball down for the try that clinched a somewhat fortunate victory.
Daniel Hunter was a virtual dynamo in the front row and once again it was Ryan McKinstry outstanding in the backs.

Derek Leake Snr (Press Officer)