Thunder steal Leigh’s limelight (From Leigh Journal)

Thunder steal Leigh’s limelight

2:10pm Thursday 18th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Leigh Centurions 12 Gateshead Thunder 40.

LEIGH Centurions crashed to defeat at the Sports Village in their first home fixture for a month and they could be set for an agonising second half of the season if results do not pick up.

Last week they were blitzed by Halifax and it was much the same against Thunder who ran in seven tries, five without reply.

The defeat leaves Centurions languishing in eighth place with only their weekend conquerors, Batley and Doncaster beneath them.

Gateshead hit the front after just three minutes when a break down the right, initiated by stand-out half back Luke Branighan, saw centre Dylan Nash race into space and his inside pass was toed forward and touched down by Michael Knowles.

The former Castleford man then slotted the first of six goals.

Leigh responded quickly when Ian Watson threaded a kick-in goal for Aaron Smith to touch down.

Winger Nick Stanton, taking over kicking duties from Ian Mort and the injured Mick Nanyn, added his first goal for the club before Gateshead hit the front once more.

They grabbed their second try after 19 minutes when Branighan made it look easy for Nick Youngquest, who sauntered through the defence without a finger being laid upon him.

The Thunder fulcrum turned from hero to zero within a couple of minutes when he spilled Martyn Ridyard’s restart to gave Leigh the position to launch an attack.

Following drives from debutant Mark Castle and Smith, Dave McConnell and Ridyard worked the ball right and Sam Reay split the line for his fifth try of the season.

Stanton’s conversion locked the scoreboard at 12-12.

That turned out to be as close as it got for Leigh, who lacked penetration and know-how despite the efforts of youngsters Andy Ainscough and Danny Meekin.

Thunder struck for two further tries before the break.

The first went the way of Nash after some excellent crossfield passing and intelligent inside running created an overlap.

Then after 34 minutes, just when it looked like Leigh had controlled a set of six defensively, Branighan’s short pass put Matt Barron in space.

He then found Knowles and Youngquest sped down the centre of the field for a gloss finish.

The visitors went on to really turn the screw in the second half, although it was Leigh who had the better of the opening exchanges.

With the words of Paul Rowley ringing in their ears they were unlucky when Steve Maden was ruled offside following Ridyard's kick.

An action-packed few minutes for the winger then saw him sent to the sinbin for dissent.

Centurions found the Thunder defence impregnable and largely resorted to a short kicking game from Watson and Ridyard that failed to pay off and, although Gateshead did not take advantage of the extra man immediately, it did eventually take its toll with Thunder plundering three further tries in 13 minutes spell.

Debutant Castle made big inroads into the Gateshead defence only for Youngquest to hold him down just long enough to avoid a penalty.

On the last tackle Branighan sliced down the left and Paul Franze supported for his fifth try in five Thunder appearances.

The game was well and truly put to bed after 63 minutes when the elusive Stewart Sanderson weaved and bobbed on the left before popping the ball inside for Castleford loan man Jamie Cording to go over.

Further embarrassment ensued for Leigh when Branighan and Franze worked the left channel for Sanderson to sprint to the corner for his 16th try of the campaign.

Leigh: Stuart Donlan, Nick Stanton, Sam Reay, Macgraff Leuluai, Steve Maden; Martyn Ridyard, Ian Watson; Chris Hill, Dave McConnell, Mike Morrison, David Armitstead, James Taylor, Aaron Smith. Subs: Jamie Durbin, Andy Ainscough, Mark Castle, Danny Meekin.

Attendance: 1,645.

LEIGH U21s entertain Whitehaven on Saturday week, kick off 2.30pm.

Entry is £2, £1 for concessions.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)