LIONS RETURN TO LEIGH FOR RESUMED MATCH

The game was abandoned because a Leigh player was injured on the pitch and the game was stopped .

The Lions were affected by absence of players who had to work or were attending the International at Wembley, and so it was a weakened team that travelled .

The game started much as the previous one had done, with the larger Leigh forwards strong in the loose rucks, backed by hard-running half-backs . The Lions held well, however, with Matt Halpin kicking well for position, using the favourable slope . The depleted forward pack was very good in the tight scrums, equalling the home pack and the line-outs were well-contested . Marc Olive in particular caught the ball well and gave clean supply to Joseph Michael at scrum-half .
Eventually, after a well-hesitated pass from Halpin, Jack Brazier went over for a good try .

This pattern of play continued and again Brazier went over for another try, which was converted by Halpin .

Leigh responded and after strong rucking they forced a try through a driving run . This was converted .

Halpin finished the Half with a penalty .

The second half was always going to be difficult ,with Leigh attacking down the slope, and pinning the Visitors with some good kicking for position . However, the Lions’ defence was as dogged as ever, but eventually Leigh charged-down a poor clearance kick and scored by the posts . The try was converted .

The Lions started to gain ground and Jake Ward on the Right Wing chased a long kick for position and put strong pressure on the Leigh defence . The Lions line-out again did well and from the possession, Ward , McLachlan and Armstrong made good runs and Brazier was only narrowly forced into touch when he charged for the line . The Captain, Gary Dixon made a storming run and almost reached the line, but from the ensuing ruck, Joe Michael went over for a try , which Halpin converted .

This was an impressive display of resolve by the Seconds and the return match at The Drill Field is awaited next Saturday .