Leigh Centurions prepare for Widnes clash (From Leigh Journal)

Leigh Centurions prepare for Widnes clash

4:53pm Thursday 22nd July 2010 in

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LEIGH Centurions travel to Widnes on Sunday knowing that a win will kickstart their top two challenge in the Cooperative Champ-ionship.

With four league games remaining until the play-offs there is all to play for in the Leigh camp with 12 points up for grabs.

Head coach Ian Millward has pinpointed the game against the Northern Rail Cup runners up, kick off 3pm.

“We’d like to try and win all four but this week is the most important one because it’s a ‘derby’. It’s a game we know will be tough and there is all to play for,” said Millward.

“We are desperate to win and get back to our two games at home. That’s where we want to get on a roll.

“Probably the bottom line is that they (Widnes) are underachieving. I think they have lost four of their last six league games and they’ve probably got one of the best rosters in the competition.

“They are very dangerous. If they play to their potential they can beat anyone.

“We are looking forward and have got to keep on improving ourselves. We are not far off the mark If we can just go that extra five per cent we’ll be right.”

Centurions have also won only two of their last six league games although Millward was quick to point out that the three most recent have been against new Northern Rail Cup holders Batley, last year’s champions Barrow Raiders and table topping Featherstone.

“These aren’t weak teams and if you put it back into perspective, this time last year the club was beaten by Barrow and Featherstone by bigger margins. I’m disappointed that we lost both games but I’m very positive about where we are heading.

“We are finishing strongly but starting slowly. We need to combine the two.”

Another positive that the Leigh boss is looking forward to is a return to form of his skipper Robbie Paul, who has been hampered over recent weeks.

“He’s had a few problems behind the scenes that a lot of people wouldn’t be aware of but he’s gradually moving forward and I’m looking forward to when he is back fully fit.”

MacGraff Leuluai has been described as ‘touch and go’ ahead of Sunday’s game at the Stobart Stadium Halton.

Speaking of the involvement of Mick Nanyn, Dave Alstead and Nick Stanton in last weekend’s Nines competition, Millward has not ruled them out of first-team selection.

“I wanted to see how they went in those games to see who was the best to pick this week. We picked what we thought was best for the Nines and we won three games. We can’t do any more than that.”

The LISA sponsored walk to Widnes will take place on Sunday with an early 8am start from Leigh.

Ian Millward will join the intrepid fund-raisers for the first leg.

The club have got behind the walk and are offering a prize of a meal for two to the Dewsbury home game on August 1 for the walker who raises the most sponsorship money by July 28.

Finally, the Centurions Reserves, currently second in their league, host Widnes at Leigh East on Saturday at 3pm.