Leigh Centurions look set for relegation dogfight (From This Is Lancashire)

Leigh Centurions look set for relegation dogfight

11:48am Tuesday 30th June 2009

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Whitehaven 36 Leigh Centurions 22

LEIGH’S 100 percent effort was not enough at Whitehaven’s infamous Recreation Ground on Sunday.

And, with the continued upturn in form of both Gateshead and Batley, Centurions look set to endure a relegation dogfight.

Despite the score, Centurions were a better prospect than they have been for several weeks and proved more clinical, especially in the first half when they were inside the home 20m area just six times and came away with two drop-outs, two tries and a penalty.With debutant Tom Hemingway linking play with Ian Watson and dovetailing when necessary, things were brighter but a change in luck is due for Dave Alstead.

The dangerous threequarter has endured a wretched 2009 season so far, playing just seven of Centurions’ 19 games, and this week he lasted a little more than 10 minutes before suffering a recurrence of his calf injury.

Before then it was Alstead who opened the scoring after Ian Mort, in at full back for the injured Stuart Donlan, drifted across field and found David Armitsead who in turn popped the ball out for Alstead to ground his third try of the season.

The lead evaporated within minutes when a seemingly docile kick to the corner from Leroy Joe was allowed to bounce and roll by Steve Maden – straight into the path of prolific winger Craig Calvert, who scored the first of four tries.

Greg McNally booted the first of five goals and his accuracy was on display again after 16 minutes when Calvert flew in at the corner following good work from Rob Jackson in targeting Macgraff Leuluai.

Centurions fashioned half a chance when the outstanding Chris Hill unloaded for Mort but the move was pulled back for a forward pass.

Whitehaven then mounted five minutes of sustained pressure and eventually got to the line from a scrum move involving Jamie Theoharous and Leroy Joe before a long pass saw Ade Adebisi just get in despite the attention of Nick Stanton.

Between the second and third tries Leigh lost Ian Watson with a mouth injury but, whereas in previous weeks that would have been a body blow, Centurions rose to the challenge and after winning a penalty and forcing a drop out, Hemingway and Dave McConnell then combined for stand in full back Jamie Durbin to slice through from deep with a touch of class.

Mort converted and just when that looked to be it, Haven swept over for their fourth try – Calvert’s third - when Jackson again created space.

There was still time for Whitehaven to be caught offside after former Leigh player Paul Ballard spilled a bomb and Mort added the points to leave Centurions 10 points adrift at half time.

With players still out of position, Centurions mounted a stirring second-half fightback.

It began when Watson and Hemingway switched play across the width of the field and Maden carried three defenders over the line. Mort's conversion attempt struck the posts but Leigh soon celebrated a fourth try.

Watson, so often creator, turned scorer after some crafty work on a drop out return by McConnell, who started the game at hooker but later played half back, centre and wing.

Mort levelled the game and Leigh looked a good bet to move on to victory before McNally hit a penalty and seven minutes later Adebisi grabbd his second try after Scott McAvoy broke the line.

Whitehaven grabbed a last-minute controversial score, with Calvert touching down despite what appeared to be a knock on in the build up by McNally.

Leroy Joe converted to take even a bonus point away from Leigh, leaving them just one spot above the relegation places.

Whitehaven: Paul Ballard; Ade Adebisi, Scott McAvoy, Rob Jackson, Craig Calvert; Leroy Joe, Greg McNally; Karl Edmondson, Jamie Theoharous, Kyle Amor, Spencer Miller, Andy Gorski, Marc Jackson. Subs: Chris Smith, Matt Tunstall, Howard Hill, Ryan McDonald.

Leigh: Ian Mort; Nick Stanton, Mick Nanyn, Dave Alstead, Steve Maden; Tom Hemingway, Ian Watson; Chris Hill, Dave McConnell, Andy Hobson, David Armitstead, Magraff Leuluai, Aaron Smith. Subs: Jamie Durbin, Mike Morrison, Mark Castle, Danny Meekin.

Attendance: 1,310.

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