Leigh Lions Come Out On Top Against Rochdale

Match Report By Rob Leyland:

This week saw Rochdale visiting Hand Lane for the first clash of the season between these teams!

Prior to this season, these two sides have met regularly in both normal, and festival, rugby.

Their last clash was at the Rochdale festival back on 29/04/2018 and Leigh got the better of both Rochdale A and Rochdale B on that occasion.

The two sides also met five weeks earlier on 25/03/2018 with Leigh again running out comfortable victors during a tri-fixture with Rochdale and Ormskirk.

Would today’s game be any closer?

There were no other teams present so the game would be played over two 30 minute halves...

Leigh u11’s 6 Rochdale u11’s 2
Evan took the kick-off, to get the game underway, and Rochdale set about moving gradually up the field. Although they weren’t making huge yards with their carries, they were recycling the ball efficiently at the ruck and, after multiple phases, found themselves in Leigh’s ‘twenty two’ and only a penalty for holding on at the ruck halted their progress.

The Lion’s seemed relieved to have survived that early period of pressure and set about trying to gain a foothold in the game. Callum found himself in possession in midfield, after a pass from Evan, and after a smart sidestep, streaked away from the defence to score try number one! Number two soon followed...Callum fielded a kicked clearance and jinked back through the visitor’s defence to touch down. Number three was a peach of a try! Reece broke a tackle and off-loaded to Callum who tipped on to Ben and he raced over to score a fine try. Despite Leigh’s quick-fire three-try salvo, Rochdale remained firmly in the game and actually ended the first half in the ascendency with only some strong defence from Leigh keeping them at bay. 3-0 at the break.

Rochdale got the second half underway but neither side were truly able to assert any authority. In truth, the game, which had been bubbling just under throughout, was starting to boil over a little bit. Some big hits and high shots had set tempers flaring and the ref was having a tough time keeping things in check. Rochdale were first to trouble the scorers in the second half when they raced clear to score a fine ‘full-lengther’ and Leigh needed to be attentive to avoid a nervy last period. Sam calmed the nerves when he was able to bundle over from close range, with the defender hanging off his neck!

The ref had finally had enough and halted the game to call both teams to halfway to remind them that they were here to play rugby and not to just have a battle! Once the game had settled down, Rochdale again came up with a fine try when they raced clear from halfway to take the score back to 4-2. The Lions needed a strong finish and they were able to deliver when it mattered...Noah crashed over from close range after a pass from Evan and Callum completed his hat-trick when he surged over after collecting a lovely flicked pass from Evan.

The game finished 6-2 to Leigh. They certainly knew that they had been in a very tough game. Rochdale were a completely different proposition from the team that had succumbed to the Lions last season.

Sam was named MOM after a strong performance in the thick of the action.

Next week is the hotly anticipated trip to Kirby Lonsdale. These two sides fought out a highly entertaining draw earlier in the season, who will prevail this time...
3, 2, 1...LIONS!