Leigh win Northern Rail Cup
Leigh have been crowned Northern Rail Cup Champions this afternoon after emerging 20-16 victors against Halifax at Bloomfield Road.
Halifax were denied by video referee Phil Bentham early on after Worrincy crossed in the corner after Stuart Donlan failed to take a Ben Black high bomb. Donlan’s blushes were spared after Bentham adjuged Jim Gannon to be offside from Ben Black‘s kick in the build up.
Moments later Ridyard crossed for Leigh, although it was also chalked off by Mr Bentham, this time for obstruction on the Halifax man.
It was Halifax who got the first points of the game with White crossing in the corner after some slick passing. Referee Matt Thomason again referring the decision upstairs, and despite lengthy deliberation over a possible obstruction, the try was awarded. Jones failed with the conversion attempt.
Fax extended the lead to 6-0 on the twenty minute mark after White was held onto for too long by the Leigh defenders, Jones opting for a simple two points.
Halifax made more pressure tell on the twenty-fifth minute when former St Helens man Stephen Bannister crossed for a try. Sam Barlow offloaded well to to Sean Penkywicz in the build up, which allowed the scheming hooker to pass to Bannister who touched down. Jones again missing the conversion.
Despite pressure from both sides, Halifax went in 10-0 up at the half time break.
A fired up Leigh side started the second half the brighter and Jamie Ellis crossed from short range after Robbie Hunter-Paul threw out a short pass from dummy half. Nanyn missing the conversion.
Dean McGilvray thought he’d scored in the corner for Leigh after Rob Worrincy failed to deal with a Martin Ridyard kick to the corner. Mr Thomason referred it upstairs and it was clear from the replay that the wingers knee was in touch, meaning the try was denied.
Leigh did score the next points of the game with Warrington bound Chris Hill charging over from fifteen metres out. Nanyn successfully adding the extras to level the score at 10-10.
Halifax hit back with twelve minutes remaining with Rob Worrincy scoring in the corner after quick hands from Jacob Fairbank. Jones successfully adding the extras from the touch line to put Fax six points in the lead.
Leigh pressed hard with ten minutes remaining with Jon Goddard holding up Tom Armstrong over the line, denying the Leigh man the chance to ground the ball.
The Leythers finally made the pressure tell with five minutes remaining with Jamie Ellis grabbing his second try of the game after latching onto the end of a Ridyard kick through. Nanyn adding the extras to put the score at 16-16.
In the last minute of the game, Dylan Nash conceded a penalty for a high shot on Stuart Donlan. The ball was kicked down field and from the resulting tap, Leigh chanced their arm, the ball was spread wide to Tom Armstrong who touched down in the corner to leave the final score at 20-16 to Leigh.