Leigh Centurions 44 Whitehaven 12

LEIGH Centurions sit third in the early Championship table after an ultimately comfortable win over Whitehaven that was built on the back of punishing and tough defence.

Although Ian Millward will not have been happy with either of the two tries conceded, there was plenty to admire as Centurions’ line speed almost totally stifled the visitors’ attack and scored some good second-half tries.

To be fair the first quarter of the game had little to write home about. Both sides rumbled down the middle of the park with Whitehaven dominating possession during the opening five minutes thanks to Leigh kicking the ball out on the full from the first whistle. Like a sponge, Centurions soaked up the early pressure and then countered with Dave Alstead being put into touch after five minutes.

A couple of moments later, enterprising play on the last tackle resulted in Reece Fox breaking through only for Stuart Donlan to calmly halt him close to the line. Whitehaven then lost the services of dangerous winger Craig Calvert and they were never really the same again despite continually playing out to former Super League squad member Rob Jackson.

There was still little between the teams despite Leigh's speedy defence until the 18th minute when, after Marc Jackson knocked on, Robbie Paul dummied and then shot through a gap in the defence for Nanyn to add the first of five goals.

It should have been more over the next few minutes but Haven somehow kept their line intact before seeing a Carl Sice try disallowed for offside following a good kick from Dylan Skee.

Leigh grabbed their second try after half an hour when Tyrone McCarthy, after a dummy-half move on the blindside, and it remained 12-0 at the break after Leigh squandered possession three times after carving Whitehaven open.

First, Leigh spilled possession after forcing a drop-out, then Nanyn broke the defence only for a last hit to dislodge the ball before Paul knocked on with a whole host of options to his left.

Centurions made a great start to the second half when swift passing and unselfish play from Tommy Goulden brought a try for Ridyard.

Nanyn could not add the goal and the Centurions nearly conceded when fine passing saw Rob Jackson break, draw Donlan and hand on to Sice. Steve Maden continued to chase back but was as surprised as anyone when bizarrely Sice failed to ground properly.

Three minutes later Ridyard quickly shipped the ball out for Nanyn to score his seventh try of the year and at 22-0 it became a question of how many points could Leigh muster.

Whitehaven themselves went through the horrors, firstly knocking on before four penalties in the space of two minutes gave referee Peter Brooke little option but to sin-bin one of the offenders - Marc Jackson - for a high tackle.

Ridyard was held up over the line before a forced drop out gave Leigh the possession they needed and Jacob Emmitt went over from close range.

The best try of the game followed after 62 minutes when a typically aggressive defensive set from Leigh forced Haven to kick long but this only succeeded in finding Stuart Donlan.

He moved down the left before Dave Alstead linked. First Alstead stepped away from Scott McAvoy before outrunning Stephen Dawes and finally swatting off Craig Benson on an exciting 60 metre raid to the try line for his eighth try of the season. Nanyn added his fifth goal to make it 34-0.

34-0 suddenly became 34-6 when a mix up in the Leigh ranks saw Dylan Skee touch down Carl Rudd’s kick.

That proved particularly fortuitous as a Carl Rudd kick caught both Maden and Donlan in two minds, Maden knocked on and the hard-working Skee dived on the mistake.

Rudd converted and turned creator again as Whitehaven threatened a brief revival. This time a long pass from the stand off found McAvoy in acres of space to score.

Leigh slapped their visitors down, however, with a strong finish and two more tries.

First Maden, on his 100th Leigh appearance, finished well in the corner from 15 metres when the ball came down the right before a scrappy final pass from Donlan saw the former Haven winger scramble over.

Then with seconds remaining, a set move at a scrum released Matty Blythe and the dual contract man sped 40 metres to score. Ridyard added his first goal of the season to complete an impressive 44-12 win and keep up the Centurions early momentum which now faces another test at Halifax.

Leigh: Stuart Donlan; Steve Maden (1t), Matty Blythe (1t), Mick Nanyn (1t, 5g), Dave Alstead (1t); Martyn Ridyard (1t, 1g), Robbie Paul (1t); Chris Hill, Dave McConnell, David Armitstead, James Taylor, MacGraff Leuluai, Tyrone McCarthy (1t). Subs: Tommy Goulden, John Duffy, Ricky Bibey, Jacob Emmitt (1t).

Whitehaven: Craig Benson; Stephen Dawes, Scott McAvoy (1t), Rob Jackson, Craig Calvert; Carl Rudd (2g), Dylan Skee (1t); Ryan MacDonald, Graeme Mattinson, Marc Jackson, Reece Fox, Howard Hill, Andy Thornley. Subs: Carl Sice, Dexter Miller, Richard Farrer, Tyrone Dalton.

Referee: Peter Brooke

Penalties: 15-9

Half time: 12-0 to Leigh

Attendance: 1,891