Leigh face Eagles in play-off knockout (From Leigh Journal)

Leigh face Eagles in play-off knockout

10:50am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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AFTER a 12-month hiatus play-off rugby returns to Leigh tonight, Thursday.

Leigh Centurions take on Sheffield Eagles for the 12th time since the Yorkshire club was reformed in 2000.

Eagles finished sixth in the Co-operative Championship with Leigh winding up in third spot after something of a late season implosion by Barrow.

A couple of weeks ago, the teams met at Bramall Lane with Sheffield victorious 29-28 on a soaking dark night.

Heading into the knock-out stages of the season, Leigh boss Ian Millward said: “There are a couple of areas that we’d like to be a little bit more consistent in.

“There’s not much we have to change too much. We played better in Sheffield than we did against Toulouse. We are moving the right way and I just feel if we can be a bit more consistent in a few areas, we’ll get the job done.“ He added: “Sheffield played really well. Their kicking game was stronger than anything else and we just made a couple of defensive errors that gave them a chance to get a one-point win.

“We won the second half 18-7 so it’s just a few things that we need to address.

“We get the chance this week to rectify that.”

Looking towards team selection, Millward said: “We have two that aren’t available. Tommy Goulden is out and Lee Mitchell is out but everyone else is under consideration.”

Millward admitted that the pair had been an integral part of his back row plans with Goulden recently agreeing a new one year deal with the club.

“Goulden brings consistency,” he said.

“He’s a rugged defender. He’s very durable and I think he’ll be better for this year, next year. He’s also a local guy and he wants to play for Leigh.”

Millward added: “His injury is nothing long term. Paul Smith will come in. It’s an opportunity and he’s looking forward to that.”

Smith is no stranger to play-off rugby having performed well for Halifax in last year’s competition.

“He’s got some real good attributes and I’m confident he’ll do a good job for us,” the Leigh coach said.

Full back Stuart Donlan has agreed verbal terms on a new deal and is expected to sign in the next few days.

Donlan rejoined the Centurions ahead of their 2009 campaign and he has been one of their most consistent players.

In other news, the club’s reserve team are also in the play-off hunt again this weekend.

Having downed Keighley 58-6 in their last game, the Centurions young guns will try and send Widnes Vikings packing but it will not be easy after the Vikings won 32-4 at Leigh a few weeks ago.