On the right lines

NEW club, new team, new season. There was barely time to make the introductions before the Centurions were beginning their journey in the Arriva Trains National Cup.

A host of new signings, a new assistant coach - there can rarely have been a more whirlwind start to a campaign than this.

And on the early evidence it would appear that head coach Paul Terzis and his new assistant John Pendlebury are on the right tracks to keep the Centurions up among the division's front runners.

Even though Leigh will be the first to admit that there is stacks of improvement to come from the team, a satisfactory first day victory over co-contenders Oldham side is pleasing enough for starters.

"It's a great feeling to stamp our authority again at our home ground," said Terzis. "We are going to make it a very hard place for opposition to come and play.

"We showed great attitude out there today. Oldham had the better preparation, no mistake. They've already played one full blooded game and then been to Spain for five days. But our commitment, both in attack and defence, was exemplary.

"We have the right work ethic and I think that shone through today. The scary thing for all the other sides is that we can improve by 70 per cent on today's effort."

L

eigh's victory, shaped by some quality finishing from Damien Munro, gives them just the start they wanted in the so-call 'Group of Death'.

"With Oldham, ourselves, Rochdale, Salford and Swinton in the same group, it's going to be tough for the top two to qualify. But we've now got two more points than Oldham and Swinton," added Terzis.

With ex-Widnes centre Munro, among others, giving the Centurions a sharp cutting edge, Oldham were always behind.

Although the first half a tight, and a times scrappy affair, Leigh were generally in control. It was only in the opening 15 minutes of the second half that Oldham looked capable of victory. But Leigh defended resolutely, rode the storm and went on to dominate most phases of the game.

Wingers Alan Hadcroft and Michael Watts, back at Hilton Park after a season away, were mighty impressive both with and without the ball; Sean Richardson looks a destructive runner and punishing defender; Dave Alstead was assured at full-back and Pat Weisner produced one quality pass that effectively put the game beyond Oldham.

"There were some good signs for the future," Terzis pointed out. "Oldham are a good attacking team and to restrict them to just two tries was very pleasing. I'm struggling to recall when they broke our line in the entire 80 minutes."

L

eigh couldn't have asked for a better start, taking the lead inside three minutes. John Duffy produced the first of several telling breaks in midfield, Adam Bristow and Paul Rowley carried it on with Richardson flicking out a peach of a pass for Munro to sprint in from 15 metres for a 4-0 lead.

Helped by a string of penalties, Oldham put Leigh under pressure but could only come up with a Simon Svabic penalty although it did need a try-saving tackle from Sonny Nickle on Ryan Staziker to keep the Centurions' noses in front.

Two Lee Sanderson penalties made it 8-2 before Svabic marked his Hilton Park return with another penalty to close the gap to 8-4 at half time.

Both sides could have scored in the opening minutes of the second half. John Goddard was recalled for a forward pass from Svabic and Munro was a finger-tip away from adding a second try. But three minutes in Svabic and another ex-Leigh favourite Paul Anderson combined and full-back Gavin Dodd shot over at the corner to level it at 8-8.

The crucial moments came either side of the hour mark when Leigh crossed twice in six minutes.

C

lever play from Duffy and Richardson set Munro clear. He drew in Dodd before his inside pass sent sub John Hamilton scrurrying over, Sanderson adding the extras. Six minutes later Munro exploded through a gap deep inside his own half and eased away for a 65 metre solo try to make it 18-8.

After Rowley and Oldham player/coach Steve Molloy had been sin-binned for fighting, the visitors made Leigh sweat when Phil Farrell pounced on Neil Roden's kick through the defensive line for a try goaled by Gareth Barber.

Deep into stoppage time Leigh came up with a quality clincher. Sub Weisner popped up a pass in a three man tackle and supporting full-back Alstead forced his way over.

SCORERS

Leigh - Tries: Munro 3mins, 62, Hamilton 57, Alstead 80. Gls: Sanderson 3/6. Oldham - Tries: Dodd 43, Farrell 74. Gls: Svabic 2/4, Barber 1/1.

TEAMS

Leigh: Alstead; Watts, Munro, Cardoza, Hadcroft; Duffy, Sanderson; Nickle, Rowley, Bradbury, Richardson, Kendrick, Bristow. Subs: (all used) Blackwood, Hamilton, Weisner, Ball.

Oldham: Dodd; Marsh, Anderson, Goddard, McNicholas; Svabic, Roden; Molloy, Hough, McLoughlin, Doran, Morley, Farrell. Subs: (all used) Barber, Johnson, Staziker, Guest.

Sin-bin: Doran (Oldham) - 31 mins, interference. Rowley (Leigh) & Molloy (Oldham) - 74 mins, fighting.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 10, Oldham 9.

Handling errors: Leigh 9, Oldham 8.

Half time: 8-4

Full time: 22-14

Attendance: 3070

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan).

star

rLOTS of promising performances to please the coach but for all-round enthusiasm - and no little ability - it was good to see Alan Hadcroft strutting his stuff on the wing again.

moan

rTHE moment of carelessness that cost them a try late on and made for an anxious closing few minutes. At 18-8 Leigh should have been home and dry.

magic

rDAMIEN Munro's 65-metre solo try that broke Oldham's resistance. A quality long-distance finish.