Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Leigh East 28 West Hull 10 – Leigh Sporting Village - Leigh East consolidated a top four spot, coming from ten points down early on to defeat West Hull, who became increasingly ragged and frustrated as the match progressed.

Dom Proctor and Ian Kerman both crossed for the visitors in a fine opening quarter, their ability to keep the ball alive in difficult squally conditions, excellent; Kerman’s conversion of his own effort making it a near perfect start for Wests.

Daniel Weaving’s try between the posts in the 25th minute began the home revival, excellent work from Mark Cahill, Martin Grainey and Keiron Johnson prizing the opening.

Stephen Grundy converted and, with Ryan O’Toole an increasing threat, Grundy levelled straight after the break when he slipped clear and spotted a gap out wide to make it 10-10.

Mark Ballard’s try edged Leigh ahead for the first time, Phil Sprotson converting immediately afterwards to establish a six point lead.

A Grundy penalty ten minutes from time was crucial and Easts finished strongly, scrum half Matt McCabe jinked over and Grundy converted before the impressive loose forward grabbed his second try for a 14 point personal haul.

Wests finished with ten men and Leigh 12 after a boil over, Christopher Harrison, Anthony Tognolia and Joshua Cooper seeing red for the visitors after a thrown ball at an opponent from the Hull loose forward started an altercation.

Tognolia and Daniel Weaving were dismissed for running in and Cooper for foul play.

ROUND UP

Continual torrential rain in the North West saw the postponement of the clash between WEST CUMBRIA and KEIGHLEY COUGAR CUBS on Sunday morning but the delaying of the NORTH LONDON STAGS and CELTIC CRUSADERS clash on Friday night was for the best of reasons.

That game was called off after the Crusaders had seven of their players picked for the 18-man Great Britain Community Lions Under 18s squad that will take on France in Montpellier on Wednesday. “We’re delighted with having so many players selected for Great Britain,” said Crusaders’ Head of Youth Performance Andy Lindley.

“It is a credit to the club to have eight lads in the training squad but to have seven in the team itself is a fantastic achievement. We’ve been a victim of our own success, thankfully the Stags have been very accommodating and we hope to rearrange the match for sometime in December.”

The Crusaders picked for the side against France includes full Welsh international Gil Dudson, who made his debut against England at Doncaster last month, and the others are Dalton Grant, Jamie Tibbs, Rhys Fenton, Ross Wardle, Loren Quick and Mark Wool.

On the field, GATESHEAD THUNDER picked up a second successive win, again away, with a 20-12 success at SIDDAL. With prop James Richardson in commanding form and full back Crawford Matthews particularly impressive, Thunder hit back from 8-0 down to lead by the break.

Joshua Sandland opened the scoring for Siddal, a strong run by centre Declan Gerathy with an unconverted try in the seventh minute, doubling the lead. Gary Bates hit back for the visitors, and a fine raid down the right saw Joshua Stoker over out wide, Reece Young kicking a fine angled conversion to edge Gateshead ahead. Matthews extended the lead three minutes into the second half with a terrific break off the back of a scrum, Young again adding the extras.

Prop Sandland reduced the arrears with his second try, Greg Firth’s conversion attempt hitting the post. Gerathy was sin binned for foul play and Stoker broke through to complete his brace. On the hour, Siddal were permanently reduced to 12 men when scrum half Robert Murphy was dismissed for dissent.

SADDLEWORTH RANGERS staged a stunning fight back to come from ten points down to defeat FEATHERSTONE LIONS 14-10. On a very heavy pitch both sides had difficulty controlling the ball but it was Featherstone who stuck first after a series of penalties Tom Waddington going in at the corner for the only points of a tense first half, just shaded by the Lions.

With the hosts again guilty of giving away penalties, the visitors dominated the early exchanges after the break and a free flowing move from one side of the pitch to the other allowed Dane Kellett to cross, Richard Frankland converting. Saddleworth slowly worked their way back into the game and after repeat sets Josh Brown went in from close range, Ethan Langhorn adding the goal.

Rangers’ tails were up and five minutes later David Orwell went in from dummy half, Langhorn putting them 12-10 in front. The remaining quarter hour became a tense arm wrestle between the packs with neither able to gain the upper hand until a rare moment of indiscipline from Featherstone gave Saddleworth the penalty that edged them home, Langhorn obliging.

The League leaders, LEIGH MINERS RANGERS, produced another dominant performance, winning 42-0 at winless WATERHEAD. Rangers were held for the first 15 minutes by a resolute Waterhead defence before scoring three tries in a devastating five minute period mid way through the first half.

Stand off Sean Pendlebury grabbed the first followed by influential scrum half Dany Myers, the third coming from winger Josh Hurst, with two conversions from Myers. The second period saw Miners score tries from deep at regular intervals, impressive full back Jonathon Pownall starting the procession, with two long range efforts from Adam Clay in the aftermath.

There were further touchdowns from Sam Shepherd and Todd Appleby, Myers adding the extras to four of the five to finish with 16 points.

Loose forward Sam Fanning’s try midway through the second half saw EAST LEEDS home 18-8 against a tough INCE ROSE BRIDGE outfit. Jordan Godrich with a now-typical burrowing try from dummy half opened the scoring for Easts, Gareth Hynes converting and then crossing from a clever chip kick.

Nathan Penny’s penalty kept Bridge in the contest at the break but Fanning’s effort on a power play finally broke their resistance. In the closing minutes, Ince prop Adam Jones powered his way over for a deserved, consolation score.

RESULTS
North London Stags v Celtic Crusaders – Postponed, international call ups
East Leeds 18 Ince Rose Bridge 8
Leigh East 28 West Hull 10
Saddleworth Rangers 14 Featherstone Lions 10
Siddal 12 Gateshead Thunder 20
Waterhead 0 Leigh Miners Rangers 42
West Cumbria v Keighley Cougar Cubs – Postponed, waterlogged pitch

FIXTURES
Gillette Friday Night Floodlit Footy – 14th November
Ince Rose Bridge v Leigh East

Sunday 16th November
Celtic Crusaders v Siddal
Featherstone Lions v West Cumbria
Gateshead Thunder v East Leeds
Keighley Cougar Cubs v North London Stags
Leigh Miners Rangers v Saddleworth Rangers
West Hull v Waterhead