Leigh had the lion’s share of the game for the first quarter of the match but it was Northwich who were the first to trouble the scorer when their giant full back, Will Du Randt, stormed over down the right hand side for a converted try on 21 minutes.

Will Du Randt added his second try, on 30 minutes, when he spotted a gap down the blindside of a ruck, to race away down the left wing to score by the corner flag. His try was very well converted from the touchline.

Leigh were quick to respond to this, just before the half time break, when prop, Wayne McCabe, crashed over the Northwich line following a period of intense pressure. Elliott Ryan dutifully added the extras.

The second half ebbed and flowed for a while but it was Northwich, through Will Du Randt again, who scored first when he scampered in for his third try of the game wide out on the right. The conversion attempt was again successful from near the touchline.

Leigh regrouped quickly and an attacking scrum near the Northwich line, on 55 minutes, produced a try for Kieran Duffy, which was duly converted by Elliott Ryan.

Northwich extended their lead to ten points through a questionable penalty but Leigh were not ready to lie down yet. Another attacking scrum on 75 minutes gave Rob Drake the space to dummy his way over the Northwich line for an excellent try, with Elliott Ryan again stepping up to the plate to add the conversion. 24 – 21 with five minutes to go.

Leigh threw all they had at Northwich in these last few minutes but unfortunately, could not translate their massive efforts into the points required to snatch what would have been a well deserved victory.

Final score Northwich 24 Leigh 21.

Another excellent, all round team performance from this tightly knit squad who really gave their all again yesterday, with Captain Iain Wood leading the way with a Man of the Match performance.

Next week, Leigh entertain League Leaders, Kirkby Lonsdale, who are unbeaten so far this season, in what will be another extreme test at Round Ash Park.