Now - Leigh Centurions

KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 14
LEIGH CENTURIONS
v
HALIFAX
WEDNESDAY, 11th JUNE 2014
AT LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE • KICK OFF 8PM
Match Sponsor
ISSUE
8
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HONOURS
Cover Star:
Liam Kay
scored four
tries in the
Centurions'
recent victory
at Sheffield
Eagles
WHO’S WHO
At Leigh Centurions
Hon Life President
Mr Tommy Sale MBE
Hon Vice President
Mr Andy Burnham MP
Hon Life Members
Mr Brian Bowman
Mr Tommy Coleman
Mr Frank Taylor
Mr John Massey
Board of Management
Mr Michael Norris - Chairman
Mr Derek Beaumont
Mr Andy Mazey
Mr Alan Platt
Mr Steve Openshaw
Mr Neil Wilcock
Ms Jackie Mottershead
Mr Trevor Barton MBE
Ms Julia Bradley
Head of Rugby
Mr Derek Beaumont
First Team Coach
Mr Paul Rowley
Assistant Coaches
Mr Neil Jukes
Mr Simon Finnigan
Conditioner
Mr Nathan Pennington
Training Assistant
Mr Thomas Wood
Masseur
Mr Rob Stewart
Statistician
Mr Cliff Sumner
Kit men
Mr Frank Taylor
Mr Sean Fairhurst
Mr Tommy Mather
Under 20’s Coach
Mr Paul Anderson
Under 20’s Assistant
Mr Steve Mayo
Conditioner
Mr Dan Ogden
Physiotherapists
Ms Emma Fletcher
Ms Hannah Lloyd
Mr John Stopford (Under 20's)
Club Doctor
Dr Maurice Doublet-Stewart
Club Ambassador
Mr Alex Murphy OBE
General Manager
Mr Rob Parker
Lottery Manager
Ms Christine Brown
Lottery Co-ordinator
Mr Johnathan Simpkin
Finance Manager
Ms Jane Smith
IT & Ticket Sales
Mr Andrew Parkinson
Commercial Sales
Mrs Amanda Lee
Club Accountants
Styles & Co
Joint Programme Editors
Mr Allan Rowley and Mr Mike Latham
CLUB CONTACTS
2
Telephone:
01942 487887
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/leighcenturionsfanpage
Email:
General Enquiries –
[email protected]
Twitter:
twitter.com/LeighCenturions
or tweet us @LeighCenturions
THE CENTU RION
Championship Winners:
1905-06
Division One Champions:
1981-82
Division Two Champions:
1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89
Challenge Cup Winners:
1920-21, 1970-71
Lancashire Cup Winners:
1952-53, 1955-56, 1970-71, 1981-82
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy:
1969-70, 1972-73
Promotion To Top Division
achieved(Not as Champions):
1963-64, 1975-76, 1991-92
Other Promotion season:
1997 (Division 3 to Division 2)
Northern Ford Minor Premiership
Winners: 2001
Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: 2001
Arriva Trains Cup Winners: 2004
LHF National League 1 Champions:
2004
LHF National League 1 Grand Final
Winners: 2004
Northern Rail Cup Winners:
2006, 2011, 2013
CLUB RECORDS
Biggest Victory:
92-2 vs Keighley (1986)
Biggest Defeat:
4-94 vs Workington Town (1995)
Highest Home Attendance:
31,326 vs St Helens (1953)
Lowest Post War Home Attendance:
451 vs Hull (1975)
Most Tries in a game:
Jack Wood 6 v York (1947),
Neil Turley 6 v Workington Town (2001)
Most Goals in a game:
Mick Stacey 15 vs Doncaster (1976)
Most Points in a game:
Neil Turley 42 vs Chorley (2004)
Most Tries in a season:
Neil Turley 55 (2001)
Most Goals in a season:
Neil Turley 187 (2004)
Most Points in a season:
Neil Turley 468 (2004)
Most Tries in a career:
Mick Martyn 189 (1954-67)
Most Goals in a career:
Jimmy Ledgard 1043 (1948-58)
Most Points in a career:
John Woods 2492 (1976-85, 1990-92)
Most Appearances:
Albert Worrall – 503 (1920-38)
www.leighcenturions.com
FROM THE TOP
CHAIRMAN MIKE NORRIS GIVES HIS VIEWS ON NEWS AND EVENTS
AT LEIGH CENTURIONS
Stephen O’Dwyer
I was on the terraces at Sheffield and spoke to Ste
in the queue for coffee a few minutes before he
was taken ill.
When the incident occurred it was a shocking event and
we are all grateful to the fans from Sheffield who
stepped in to help alongside some of our own
supporters – thanks from everyone at Leigh Centurions.
I am delighted that Ste is now making a recovery and he
and his family can rely on our continued support in any
way we can.
beneficiaries! I welcome the players, officials and
supporters of Halifax to the LSV and look forward to a
great game of Rugby League played in the right spirit!
Next season
I am old enough to remember the incredible ‘81-82
season when we won 14 straight games and also when
we repeated the feat in ‘85-86 but I can honestly say
that this season’s run of 16 wins has surpassed those
years in terms of excitement.
On behalf of everyone behind the scenes at Leigh
Centurions I want to offer my congratulations and
thanks to Paul, Neil, Ollie, Stu and the rest of the team
for giving us such a fantastic time so far.
This is a topic I will return to over the course of the year
but at the halfway stage people are starting to realise
the importance of this season in establishing a base for
future years.
Both ourselves and Halifax wish to be part of the
“middle eight” next year and we are looking with great
interest at the relegation battle in Super League to see
who will be joining us in the initial second tier. It is a
long time since supporters of Rugby League, me
included, have paid such attention to these lower
echelons but it reminds us all what has been missing
from the game for too long – the opportunity for clubs
to climb the sporting ladder on the back of on-field
success.
Clubs like Leigh, Halifax, Featherstone etc now have
genuine growth aspirations, the achievement of which
is in our own hands, and that is all we ask.
Our visitors
One minute’s silence
I am writing these notes before the Leeds cup tie but
irrespective of the outcome of that game we are still
coming into tonight’s fixture as unbeaten Kingstone
Press Championship leaders, a label Halifax will be keen
to remove from us!
Over the last few seasons there has been no shortage of
points in games between our clubs, with both sides
handing out drubbings to the other and some
sensational tries being scored in the process. This
season’s encounter at the Shay probably topped them
all with Leigh coming back from a 24-nil deficit after 39
minutes to win the fixture despite playing with 12 men
for 30 minutes. I am sure Halifax will be out for revenge
tonight and we, the spectators, will be the
Before this evening’s game we shall be observing one
minute’s silence in memory of three great Leigh
Centurions supporters who have all sadly passed away
recently.
Roy Bowker, Bert Myers and Gary Dawber were all Leigh
fans through and through and will be known to many
supporters attending the game. On behalf of the Leigh
Centurions club I would like to pass on our sincere
condolences to their respective families and friends at
this sad time.
Best wishes
Mike
Mike Norris, Chairman
Record run!
www.leighlife.com
THE CENTURION
3
COACH’S
CORNER
ave Parkinson
D
caught up with
Paul Rowley to find
PAUL ROWLEY
TALKS TO
DAVE
PARKINSON
out about his take on a
sporting dynasty with
his new contract and
breaking the record at
the club for most
successive victories.
DP: Paul first of all congratulations
on your new deal at the club. I think
the key word here is continuity. All
the great sporting dynasties have
been built on that continuity?
PR: Yeah absolutely, there is a saying that
everyone goes on a journey and we are
clearly on one. Everybody wants continuity,
you get piece of mind, and I think with
having a young set of players, clearly they
are going to be here for some time. We
will grow as a group and that includes
staff.
You almost feel indebted to the players
and I need to be here to look after them. I
brought them here and I’m not going to
abandon them. That was a big player for
me wanting to stay as well. I wanted to
make sure that I didn’t let any of those
players down because they are my players.
I’ve recruited that team and I don’t want
to leave them with a risk of uncertainty of
someone who might come in and change
the culture or the way they play because I
know that’s what they like and that’s what
they’ve bought into. Culture and
recruitment are the two key ingredients in
any club. Thankfully we got the
recruitment right and the culture is good.
Continuity is a big player like you said.
DP: Over at Sheffield your team did
you proud by winning convincingly
and in the process making history, a
run they continued against
Workington?
PR: We left no stone unturned, we
prepared over at Sheffield Wednesday just
around the corner from Owlerton, we had
total preparation from the start, then we
stayed overnight in Workington. At
Sheffield the boys played really, really
tough and with so much skill and desire
and commitment. We had green lights in
every department. I’m delighted, I’m so
proud of this squad. We made history and
we dedicated the performance at Sheffield
to Stephen O’Dwyer.
I’m so proud of the fans and proud of the
team, proud of the club. It was a good day
to be wearing red and white. We were
aware of the record but we haven’t let it
control us.
At Workington it was a great result and
we had three tries disallowed. It was a
very ugly game and we played really
Martyn Ridyard kicks for goal at Derwent Park.
Leigh fans v Doncaster
www.leighlife.com
poorly so for us to go there and play so
poorly and get those tries disallowed is
rewarding.
I found it unbelievable the celebrations for
a loss from Workington but I guess that
tells you more about the two clubs.
DP: I know you highlighted the
Workington game wasn’t perhaps
the best performance but this run
continues, it’s another place that you
went to and overcame adversity?
PR: We got beaten there last year and
they talk themselves down a lot, which we
get every week. In the local press Phil
Veivers for example was saying about fulltime Leigh, well our boys will be out on
the building site like anyone else and their
players are probably on lighter jobs at
Sellafield!
We do it tough, just like them and we’ve
got that local talent. They shouldn’t
concentrate on us to hide their own
deficiencies. Again I’m very proud of our
club and the boys. They dug in. It wasn’t
pretty.
It was a bit like Keighley away, it’s
amazing how teams want to drag you
down. To have forty seconds on the clock
and then see those miraculously disappear,
it kind of topped everything off. Let them
celebrate the bonus point and we’ll go on
our way.
Tom Armstrong takes the ball up at Workington
THE CENTURION
5
CO-CAptain’S
CORNER
MIKE LATHAM caught up with CO-CAPTAIN
OLI WILKES AFTER THE WORKINGTON TOWN GAME.
ML - A lot has happened since the last
home game against Doncaster hasn’t
it?
OW - Yes, it’s been a busy period and we’ve
reached the halfway point in the
Championship season. Doncaster posed us
a tough challenge and were a pretty skilful
side, especially with Paul Cooke
orchestrating things in the middle. Despite
all that we got a 50-point win which we’ve
been doing on a consistent basis so far this
year and we scored some good tries to
entertain the fans.
ML- And then you had a different sort
of challenge at Sheffield?
OW - Goodness knows how their dressing
rooms got passed as being a suitable facility
for a professional sports club. We couldn’t
all fit and after the game the shower
facilities were horrendous with just two
showers between 17 players. Paul Rowley
took it on himself to organise that we
changed pre-match at Sheffield Wednesday,
which shows the level of planning,
preparation and professionalism at this
club. As a former Sheffield player myself I
hope for their sake they don’t have to play
at that ground much longer. Sheffield Eagles
are a good, decent and passionate club
who have coped with a lot of adversity over
the years and they are still there. I hope
they get a new facility soon, hopefully as
part of the new athletics complex that is
being planned in the city. Eagles officials,
players and fans certainly deserve
something better than that and I wish them
well in the future. Again we got a good win
away from home.
ML- And for the Workington game the
Club made all sorts of preparations by
staying overnight before the game?
OW - It was good to get all the lads
together and it was a reward for everyone’s
hard work so far this season. We used the
same hotel as I stayed in when playing for
Scotland during the World Cup. It’s a good
hotel with good facilities and all the lads
stayed together, ate together and had a
good team bonding. It was a very
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THE CENT U R ION
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professional way of doing things and
showed again how the club is progressing.
Workington certainly gave us a very hard
game. We were 22-6 up at half-time but we
lost the second half. They came out with all
guns blazing and at the end they celebrated
like they’d won the game, instead of just
getting a bonus point. At the end of the day
we went up there and did the job we
wanted to do, winning the game and
maintaining our winning run.
ML- Being captain of a side that’s just
set an all-time Club record for most
successive wins must make you
extremely proud?
OW - It’s down in the history books and it’s
great to be part of it. When you think how
long the Leigh Club has been in existence
it’s an amazing achievement by everyone
connected with the Centurions. A few
amazing things have happened to me
during my two spells at Leigh, like winning
the Grand Final in 2004 and getting into
Super League and now this start to the
season. I already have many fond memories
of playing for Leigh and hopefully before I
finish I’ll have loads more.
Oli Wilkes in action in the recent game at
Dewsbury
GOLD STAR
WEEK 8
THE CENTURION
7
IN HIS LATEST CENTURIONS CHAT MARK
TAYLOR, LEIGH CENTURIONS RUGBY LEAGUE
CORRESPONDENT OF THE LEIGH REPORTER
AND WIGAN EVENING POST MEETS...
CAMERON
PITMAN
here’s a long tradition of
T
Australian players loving life
and playing Rugby League in Leigh.
Mick Bolewski was the trailblazer. A member of the first
Kangaroos, he stayed on after the tour and became a Leigh folk
hero until World War One got in the way.
Just after the Second World War Trevor Allan, a big money signing
from Australian RU, became one of Leigh’s all-time greats- his
name is still revered by Leigh fans of a certain vintage.
In more recent times players like Trevor Cogger, Mike Davis, Adam
Bristow, Jamie Kennedy and Craig Stapleton have all become
local heroes.
The latest in the long lineage is Cameron Pitman, whose
consistent displays have earned him a two-year deal that ties him
to the Club until the end of 2016. It also puts paid to newspaper
speculation linking him to a move to a Super League club.
Unlike Bolewski and Allan, who were targeted by Leigh’s scouts,
Pitman, 24, came to the Club in a happy accident of fate. Sydney
born, but with a British passport from his parents, who hail from
Poole in Dorset, he decided to chance his arm in the British game.
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THE CENTU RION
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After playing for Coogee Wombats in the South Sydney Junior
RFL, Pitman compiled a video to send to interested parties in the
UK.
“My dad’s good friend was the late John McVay, a former Leigh
player of the 1960s,” Pitman explains. “I worked alongside John’s
son Simon and he suggested we send something to Leigh.”
The video arrived on the desk of Allan Rowley, a former teammate of McVay, and he involved Centurions Head of Rugby Derek
Beaumont. Suitably impressed, they alerted the Leigh coaching
staff to Pitman’s potential.
Pitman paid his own way over and was soon playing and
impressing in Leigh’s Under-20s side last season. “I’d missed
pre-season and it took me a while to find my feet,” he says. “But
I really enjoyed it and everyone made me welcome. I soon settled
into the Club and into living in Leigh. It’s a bit different to Sydney,
especially weather-wise, but the people are great and they love
their Rugby League.
“I knew I had to bide my time, wait and be patient and that my
chances would come.”
Pitman comes from a sporting family. His elder sister Chelsea is a
professional netball player who currently plays for West Coast
Fever in Perth and has 15 Australian Test caps.
Pitman made his first-team bow against Barrow last July and
missed out on another chance late in the season due to a foot
injury. But after three months back home in the winter he has
come back firing and earned a regular place in the centre,
displacing Club Captain Stuart Littler.
He made such an impression he was voted Man of the Match
against Rochdale Hornets in March in his first game of the season
and has carried on from there, forming a fine partnership with
Adam Higson.
“I love it at Leigh, love the town, love the Club, playing and
training here,” Pitman says. “It’s a good side and a happy side.
We have a great bunch of lads.”
Pitman’s progress is being followed avidly back home in Sydney.
“My mates are stoked for me and can’t believe what’s
happened,” he says. “It’s a dream come true and signing the new
contract is great for me.”
THE CENTURION
9
WE SHALL
REMEMBER THEM
A NEW SERIES By MIKE LATHAM
C
ontinuing our series looking at Leigh players who gave their lives
in the First World War, this week we remember HARRY BILSBURY.
Harry Bilsbury was an allround sportsman who was one
of the best-known local
characters leading up to the First
World War.
Bilsbury, who lived at Doctor’s
Nook was a fine athlete and won
many races on the running track.
He also signed professional
terms for Leigh, said to have
featured many times for the A
Team after his debut in 1910.
Despite some fine displays he
was, however, never called up
for first-team action. He was also
a fine boxer and fought many bouts in the ring and a
notable wrestler.
Reports of Leigh A Team games are few and far between at
that time but it is known Bilsbury scored a try from leftwing against Rochdale Hornets A on 14 Jan 1910 and a hattrick in the away game at St Helens two months later. In
October 1913 he is noted as playing loose forward against
St Helens Recs A.
The Leigh Journal reported that Bilsbury had won a boxing
contest at the Brigade of Guards’ Depot, Surrey soon after
the war started. Bilsbury was said to be “in the pink of
condition, the strict discipline and training of the Guards
adding to his agility and strength.” He knocked-out his
opponent, Private Frank Wright, who had previously fought
against William ‘Iron’ Hague, British Heavyweight Champion
between 1909 and 1911. At that time Bilsbury was known
as the ‘white hope’ and considered one of boxing’s most
promising newcomers.
Soon after the war started Bilsbury had enlisted in the
Forces and joined the Grenadier Guards where he was a
Guardsman in the Second Battalion.
Sadly, he joined the growing toll of local soldiers to lose
their lives in the conflict. The Leigh Journal of 25 September
1916 reported:
“News has reached Mrs Bilsbury, who resides at Doctor’s
Nook, Leigh through the medium of a letter sent by a
Westleigh soldier to his home that her son, Pte Harry
Bilsbury, of the Grenadier Guards, has been killed at the
front.
“Pte Bilsbury joined the Army in November 1914 along with
his mate, Pte William Harvey, who is also among the killed
this week and had been in France about 14 months. He was
well-known in this district as a wrestler, boxer and
footballer. He played for some time with the Leigh Northern
Union football team. He was 26 years of age and the
youngest of 13 children.
“Before joining the colours he was employed at the Albion
Foundry. His brother Tom was discharged from the Army,
being disabled through suffering frostbite in his feet.”
William Harvey was also a notable athlete and won many
sprints on the track throughout the country. It was stated
that he had played for Leigh A Team, but I have been unable
to verify this from the match reports that survive of that
time. It was a measure of the incredible death toll among
the young men of Leigh that Harvey, whose residence was
in Jury Street, Westleigh, was stated to be the sixth soldier
from that street alone to lose his life in the conflict.
Harry Bilsbury was killed in action on 15 September 1916
during the Battle of the Somme and is buried at the
Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France.
With thanks to
Leighlife.com and John
Taylor for their
tremendous assistance in
researching these
articles.
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THE CENTURION
11
Leigh LEGENDS PAY TRIBUTE
eigh legends Tony Cooke and
L
Tony Cottrell have paid tribute
to Paul Rowley s record-breaking
down to us all pulling together.
"I can see similarities with the current Leigh side. Paul Rowley
has done a tremendous job building the side up from nothing
three years ago and I have really enjoyed watching them play this
season."
Cottrell was a key member of the Leigh side that romped to the
second division title in 1985-86 when Tommy Dickens took over
the coaching reins from Alex Murphy early in the season. Leigh
ended the campaign with 14 straight league wins after losing at
Hull KR in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup.
"It was an incredible season," Cottrell recalled. "We won 33 out
of 34 league games and ran in a lot of big scores. We scored over
one thousand points in the league and nearly 1,500 overall. Steve
Halliwell obviously got a lot of the headlines, scoring 49 tries but
it was a great team effort and we had great backs like John
Henderson, Phil Fox, Chris Johnson and Des Drummond.
"It's really exciting seeing what is happening at Leigh at the
moment. They are playing some great rugby and they are a club
definitely on the up. It's a great achievement to set a new record
in the way they have."
Centurions
The team set a new all-time Club record with their 15th
successive victory at Sheffield Eagles and then extended the
record with victory at Workington Town.
The winning run also represents Leigh's best ever start to a
season.
Cooke was a member of the Leigh championship-winning side
which set the previous record of 14 straight wins in the 1981-82
season, under the coaching team of Alex Murphy and Colin
Clarke. The sequence included 12 league games and two
Challenge Cup-ties between November 1981 and February 1982
and laid the platform for Leigh's first title for 76 years.
"That was a fantastic season and was really part of something
special," said Cooke. "We had a great team with fantastic
players like John Woods and Des Drummond, but most of all we
were a team in the truest sense and never knew when we were
beaten. We won a lot of games by narrow margins and it was
PREVIOUS LEIGH RECORDS FOR CONSECUTIVE WINS
1981-82: 14 successive wins, November 1981 to February 1982
1981
October
November
November
November
November
December
Opponents
H/A
Res
F
A
Att
25
8
15
22
29
13
Hull KR
Featherstone R
Castleford
Whitehaven
Wakefield T
Widnes
Away
Home
Away
Home
Away
Home
Lost
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
15
24
20
23
18
18
18
12
17
13
12
5
9403
4514
3356
4792
3790
2553
3
24
31
4
7
14
17
21
27
3
Fulham
St Helens
York
Bradford N
Featherstone R
Warrington (CC-1)
Warrington
Wigan
Hull KR (CC-2)
Hull
Home
Home
Away
Away
Away
Home
Away
Home
Away
Away
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Lost
18
27
38
9
16
28
12
18
18
4
11
5
9
8
12
17
11
15
17
8
4711
6675
4061
5678
3131
10366
5001
9686
12034
12339
1982
January
January
January
February
February
February
February
February
February
March
Tony Cooke
1986: 14 successive wins, March 1986 to May 1986
1986
March
March
March
March
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
May
May
May
May
August
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THE CENTU RION
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16
23
28
31
6
10
13
16
20
27
30
5
7
9
11
31
Opponents
H/A
Res
F
A
Att
Hull KR (CC-3)
Huddersfield B
Rochdale H
Blackpool B
Wakefield T
Workington T
Workington T
Hunslet
Barrow
Doncaster
Keighley
Whitehaven
Bramley
Keighley
Doncaster
St Helens
Away
Home
Home
Away
Away
Away
Home
Away
Home
Away
Home
Home
Away
Away
Home
Away
Lost
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Lost
10
22
29
15
12
29
36
24
26
20
92
64
21
38
46
18
25
12
23
8
2
20
8
12
18
12
2
12
8
4
24
50
7928
2499
2898
1501
2214
624
2310
853
3176
1715
2224
2813
851
670
3421
6594
www.leighlife.com
Tony Cottrell with Chris Johnson
THE CENTURION
13
MATCHDAY
1
2
3
4
5
What is another name for a hand
off?
...........................................................
Only one player has won the
World Club Challenge with 3
different clubs, who is that?
...........................................................
Who were the original title
sponsors for Super League in
1996?
...........................................................
What was the name of Widnes’
home ground prior to
redevelopment?
...........................................................
Former Celtic Crusaders Coach
John Dixon is Tasmanian.
True or false?
...........................................................
Match Day Quiz ANSWERS
From the Doncaster programme
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1. What refereeing innovation was introduced into the
2009 NRL?
2 Referees
2. Great Britain’s captain in the 1954 World Cup was
Irish, True or False?
False (Dave Valentine was Scottish)
3. When was undersoil heating introduced at
Headingley?
1963
4. In 2008’s Super League Adrian Morley played fewer
than 20 games for Warrington, True or False?
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THE CENTU RION
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6
St George’s famous consecutive
run of NSWRL Premierships lasted
from when until when?
7
...........................................................
Who only spent 12 days with
Hull FC in 2009?
8
...........................................................
Where in the body are the
quadricep muscles?
9
...........................................................
In which year was the first FULLY
televised Challenge Cup Final?
10
...........................................................
Which film star came seeking a
Super League star in August 2009?
...........................................................
(with thanks to Andrew Parkinson for setting
the questions)
Answers in the next Programme
False, he played in 27 games
5. When was the 10 metre rule introduced by the RFL?
1992
6. Who won the Co-operative Championship 1 in
2011?
Swinton Lions
7. In what sport were jockstraps originally used?
Cycling
8. When did Workington RLFC first play in the RFL?
1945
9. Which Beaver went to Bradford in 2009?
Steve Menzies
10. How high is an RL cross bar?
3 metres (10ft = 3.05m)
THE CENTURION
15
IN TOWN TODAY
HALIFAX
RESERVE TEAM FIXTURES 2014
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Month
Feb
Mar
Mar
Mar
Apr
Apr
May
May
May
May
Jun
Jun
Jun
Jul
Jul
Jul
Jul
Jul
Aug
Aug
FRIENDLIES
1
Jan
2
3
Feb
4
Mar
5
May
16
Date
26
8
12
19
12
26
3
14
24
28
14
21
28
5
12
19
24
30
7
15
Ven
h2
a
a
h2
h3
a
a
h1
a
h1
h6
h3
h4
a
a
h5
a
h2
a
a
Opponents
Featherstone
Oldham
Halifax
Keighley
North East Academy
Cumbria Academy
Midlands Academy
Featherstone
Sheffield
Keighley
Halifax
Cumbria Academy
Midlands Academy
North East Academy
Featherstone
Sheffield
Keighley
Oldham
Halifax
Sheffield
KO
7-30pm
2-30pm
7-30pm
7-30pm
2-30pm
1-30pm
2-30pm
7-30pm
2pm
7-30pm
2-30pm
2-30pm
2-30pm
2-30pm
2-30pm
3-45pm
7-30pm
7-30pm
7-30pm
2-30pm
Res
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
17
29
22
26
8
h2
h2
h1
h2
a
Rochdale
North Wales
Oxford
York
York
7-30pm
7-30pm
2-30pm
8pm
8pm
L
L
W
L
W
THE CENTU RION
F
44
46
40
94
116
38
88
62
14
72
A
12
10
24
6
0
34
10
22
0
10
Pos'n
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
Halifax visit LSV this evening off the back of a hardfought and impressive 28-14 victory at Cougar Park over
Keighley.
The three points gained from that game left them in fourth place
in the Kingstone Press Championship with seven wins and one
draw from their13 games at the half-way stage of the league
campaign.
Halifax coach Karl Harrison was pleased with the telling League
Express: “It was a tough ball game. It wasn’t a quick game at all
and very slow throughout. We put down a lot of ball due to
Keighley’s defence but we showed resilience at times when
defending for long periods in that second half.
“When we got a chance at the other end we went and scored.
So we’re pleased that we got the result. In the end it was a
convincing scoreline for us, but it was far from convincing.”
Against a Keighley side containing no fewer than ten former
Halifax players, Halifax gave a debut to Peter Fox, the former
Wakefield and England winger, who has signed a deal until the
end of the season.
Harrison, who has a coaching pedigree as impressive as his
playing career including spells as assistant coach at Bradford
Bulls and Head Coach with Keighley, Salford and England rejoined his former club from Batley Bulldogs in 2012. One of the
inductees into the Halifax Hall of Fame he was a superb and
durable prop forward, appearing 14 times for Great Britain and
playing for England in the 1995 World Cup Final after beginning
his professional career in the humble surroundings of Bramley
and later becoming a huge crowd favourite at Hull FC.
Harrison and Paul Rowley, the Centurions Head Coach, packed
down many times together in the Halifax front row. One of their
most memorable campaigns was the 1998 Super League season
when Halifax defied all expectations and finished third in the
table, playing some superb rugby along the way.
Halifax, then known as the Blue Sox and playing at The Shay
after their heartbreaking and emotional move from Thrum Hall,
used only 23 players during the season. The Halifax pack
featuring Harrison, Rowley and Kelvin Skerrett in a fearsome front
row also had great contributions from the likes of Martin Moana,
Gary Mercer, Richard Marshall, Des Clark and another former
Leigh player in Simon Baldwin, who is a Guest of Honour at the
Touchdown Club this evening.
In the backs Australian scrumhalf Gavin Clinch had a memorable
season and Chris Chester, Martin Pearson, Fereti Tuilagi, Daio
Powell, David Bouveng and Damian Gibson were also firm
favourites of the Halifax faithful. Former Leigh star John
Pendlebury, a recent guest of the Legends of Leigh RL on Leigh
Centurions TV was the Halifax Coach. John recalls memories of
his time at Leigh and Halifax during a fascinating and insightful
interview with Dave Parkinson.
These days, like the Centurions Halifax, who lost their Super
League place in 2003 have fought back from financial problems
that threatened their very existence. They are one of the most
consistent sides in the Championship and have realistic aims of
one day regaining their Super League spot. The Shay is now a
great venue to watch Rugby League and Halifax’s off-field
organisation and match-day presentation is the envy of many
clubs in the game.
Harrison re-shaped his squad ahead of the new season, bringing
in halfback Simon Brown from York, scrumhalf Ben Johnston from
Castleford Tigers, hookers Ben Kaye from Featherstone Rovers
and hooker Paul Mennell and winger Gareth Potts from Batley
Bulldogs. Among the departures was Sam Barlow who has
become a mainstay of the Centurions pack alongside another
former ‘Fax favourite in Sean Penkywicz.
“It was time to freshen up the place a little bit and we have
brought in a lot of young players- that’s how we have gone this
season with a real young team,” Harrison said in pre-season. We
look forward to a great game of Rugby League under the LSV
floodlights this evening.
HOME VENUES
h1 at Leigh Miners
h2 at Leigh East
h3 at Golborne Parkside
h4 at Leigh RU
h5 at LSV
h6 at Leigh Miners Rangers
Juniors
24
12
44
18
64
28
24
20
36
10
-
www.leighcenturions.com
Ben Johnston
Ben Kaye
www.leighlife.com
Paul Mennell
Simon Brown
THE CENTURION
17
LEIGH V HALIFAX
IN THE SUMMER ERA
Summary
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Against
League
19
9
0
10
520
618
Challenge Cup
2
2
0
0
59
38
National League Cup
4
3
0
1
109
106
Total
25
14
0
11
688
762
Date
Venue
Competition
Result
F
A
Att
28/03/2004
away
National League Cup
Won
27
16
2,815
09/04/2004
home
National League Cup
Won
46
20
2,563
13/06/2004
home
League
Won
43
25
1,952
22/08/2004
away
League
Lost
30
58
1,781
08/05/2005
home
Challenge Cup
Won
40
20
3,255
09/04/2006
away
League
Won
32
10
2,160
02/07/2006
home
League
Won
38
36
1,955
01/07/2007
home
League
Lost
6
18
1,803
12/08/2007
away
League
Lost
22
68
1,816
27/04/2008
home
League
Lost
36
42
2,212
10/07/2008
away
League
Lost
22
34
2,854
07/06/2009
away
National League Cup
Lost
16
54
2,186
03/07/2009
away
League
Lost
16
48
2,094
31/08/2009
home
League
Lost
18
27
2,349
28/03/2010
away
League
Won
48
10
3,071
30/05/2010
home
League
Lost
40
46
2,536
17/04/2011
away
League
Won
32
22
2,479
02/06/2011
home
League
Lost
16
36
2,525
17/07/2011
neutral
National League Cup
Won
20
16
8,820
19/04/2012
away
League
Won
32
18
2,062
29/04/2012
home
Challenge Cup
Won
19
18
2,182
17/08/2012
home
League
Won
32
28
2,122
14/04/2013
away
League
Lost
10
60
2,161
31/07/2013
home
League
Won
11
4
1,773
13/04/2014
away
League
Won
36
28
2,282
688
762
Remember the game?
Sunday 2 July 2006 at Hilton Park
Leigh 38 (T- Halliwell 4, Heremaia 2, Govin; G- Govin 5)
Halifax 36 (T- Haley, Spink 3, Penny, Brambani; G- Haley 6)
Leigh: Grix; Gaskell, Hughes, Halliwell, Greenwood; Govin, Heremaia;
Stevens, Sykes, Prescott, Taylor, Glassie, Roberts. Subs: Forber, Hill,
Hargreaves, Wilson.
Halifax: Attwood; Haley, Kirk, Blackwood, George; Penny, Lawford;
Hobson, Hoyle, Boutts, Hayes, Spink, Ball. Subs: Brambani, Clough,
McDonald, Wrench.
Att: 1,955; Referee: Ben Thaler; HT 4-18.
18
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
www.leighlife.com
Danny Halliwell
SQUAD 2014
Coach: Karl Harrison
Assistant Coach: Lee Greenwood
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Name
Ryan Fieldhouse
Rob Worrincy
Steve Tyrer
Ben Heaton
Wayne Reittie
Scott Murrell
Simon Brown
Tony Tonks
Ben Kaye
Luke Ambler
Dane Manning
Andy Bracek
Luke Adamson
Paul Mennell
Adam Robinson
Danny Cowling
Ben Davies
Ben Johnston
Keith Holden
Tommy Saxton
Callum Casey
Sam Brooks
Gareth Potts
Peter Fox
Ross Divorty
Jack Spencer
Rikki Sheriffe
Results so far in 2014:
Championship
Swinton (h) 28-18
Featherstone (a) 20-28
Batley (h) 8-10
Sheffield (h) 30-28
Whitehaven (a) 36-14
Doncaster (h) 48-6
Leigh (h) 28-36
Barrow (a) 32-18
Workington (a) 20-20
North Wales (h) 6-12
Rochdale (a) 28-12
Dewsbury (a) 18-20
Keighley (a) 28-14
Challenge Cup
Hull Dockers (a) 70-6
Widnes (h) 10-34
THE CENTURION
19
IN RESERVE
Bob Beswick’s try v Doncaster
This sequence of photos
follow Adam Higson’s
spectacular try against
Doncaster
ACTION
v DONCASTER
20
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
Cameron Pitman’s try v Doncaster
www.leighlife.com
Leigh Centurions Reserves
have been busy in recent
weeks and matching their
first team counterparts in
producing consistently
high-scoring and
entertaining victories.
When Featherstone Rovers
visited Twist Lane, the young
Centurions produced one of
their best performances of the
season to record a 62-22 win,
running in 11 tries in the
Coach Paul Anderson
process. Jonny Pownall, Josh
Ward and Sam Peet led the way with two tries apiece and
Ward continued his fine goal-kicking form with nine goals.
Leigh then visited the Sheffield University Sports Arena and
slogged out a hard-earned 14-0 victory in atrocious
conditions. Stuart Littler and Chris Hankinson scored the
Centurions’ tries, one in each half and Ward added two
conversions and that rarity in this try-laden season, a
penalty goal. But it was the Centurions’ defence that most
pleased Coach Paul Anderson.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Keighley Cougars were the next visitors to Twist
Lane and the Centurions reverted back to their
fluent form, scoring 13 tries in a 72-10 victory
after leading 30-6 at the interval.
Twelve players got on the score-sheet with winger Tyler
Spence the only one to notch more than one try. Ward
passed 100 goals for the season, a fantastic achievement,
with his fifth successful kick.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Reserves game against Halifax, originally scheduled for
this evening has been rescheduled and will now be played
at Leigh Miners Rangers Juniors off Holden Road next
Saturday (2-30pm).
On Saturday 21 May Leigh Reserves take on Cumbria
Academy at Golborne Parkside and the following Saturday
break new ground when they entertain Midlands Academy
at Leigh RU Club at Hand Lane. Again both games have 230pm kick-offs.
Statistics:
14 May v Featherstone Rovers (home) W 62-22.
Team: Lee (t); Maden, Littler (t), Hankinson (t), Pownall
(2t); Warburton, Ward (2t, 9g); Ostick, Holmes (t),
Aspinwall, Peet (2t), Tracey, Bate. Subs: Liku, Tatlock,
Halton, Duffy (t).
24 May v Sheffield Eagles (away) W 14-0.
Team: Lee; Adu Dwumma, Littler (t), Hankinson (t),
Harper; Ward (3g), Foster; Ostick, Wilkinson, Aspinwall,
Peet, Tracey, Briscoe. Subs: Holmes, Tatlock, Warburton,
Halton.
28 May v Keighley Cougars (home) Won 72-10.
Team: Lee (t); Spence (2t), Littler (t), Tatlock, Harper; Ward
(t, 8g), Foster (t, 2g); Duffy (t), Holmes (t), Briscoe (t), Peet
(t), Tracey (t), Hankinson. Subs: Wilkinson (t), Adu
Dwumma, Liku, Halton (t).
THE CENTURION
21
ON THIS DAY
IN HISTORY
By MIKE LATHAM
1999 -
Leigh’s season was
gathering momentum under Coach Ian
Millward and a 39-8 victory at
Headingley over Bramley consolidated
the Centurions in second place in the
Northern Ford Premiership. Bramley had
plenty of experience in their ranks with
player-coach Mike Ford, a former Leigh
player partnering ex-Leeds and GB star
Garry Schofield but they never
recovered from a red card handed out
to Anthony Gibbons just before halftime.
Leigh began well with skipper Andy
Fairclough crossing for his 15th try of
the season before Gibbons levelled the
scores. But tries by Australian Ken Kerr
and Alan Hadcroft put the visitors firmly
in control even before Gibbons’
dismissal for a high-tackle on Anthony
Murray. Leading 16-4 at half-time,
Leigh went on to post four second half
tries with Jamie Kennedy, Hadcroft,
Dave Whittle and Andy Pucill all going
over and Phil Kendrick kicking five
goals with Kieron Purtill adding a dropgoal. Maea David grabbed a
consolation try for Bramley.
This was to be Bramley’s last season as
a senior club. They finished a
respectable 11th in the NFP, after
beginning their season with an 18-12
third round Challenge Cup defeat at
the hands of Leigh Miners Rangers.
Leigh finished fourth before losing at
home to Featherstone Rovers in the
play-offs.
JUNE
11
The Leigh side was: Donlan; Hadcroft,
Kendrick, Kerr, Ingram; Patel, Purtill K;
Street, Arkwright, Whittle, Kennedy,
Cruckshank, Fairclough. Subs: Murray,
Pucill, Liku, Bowker.
2000 - The Centurions were third
in the Premiership and beat Hunslet
44-4 at Hilton Park before a crowd of
1,675. They went on to finish fourth in
the table and suffered the crushing
disappointment of defeat at the hands
of Dewsbury in the grand final. Paul
Terzis had taken over as Head Coach
from Millward earlier in the season
after his departure to St Helens.
The Hunslet game featured tries by
Stuart Donlan (2), Alan Cross, Andy
Fairclough, Phil Kendrick, Paul
Anderson, Heath Cruckshank and
Micky Higham with Anderson kicking
six goals.
Former Leigh coach Paul Terzis
2006 -
Leigh bounced back from
a narrow defeat at Batley to beat
Rochdale Hornets 30-16 at Hilton Park
and stay in second place in National
League One. The game featured a hattrick from loose forward Gary Sykes
with Carl Forber also crossing while
Julian O’Neill kicked seven goals. The
crowd was 1,936. Tony Benson was the
Leigh Coach and the team on duty
eight years ago was as follows:
Grix; Gaskell, Hughes, Forber,
Greenwood; O’Neill, Heremaia; Bibey,
Rowley, Wilson, Taylor, Hill, Sykes. Subs:
Pemberton, Cookson, Moore, Stevens.
Mike Ford- former Leigh player who
played against Leigh for Bramley
22
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
www.leighlife.com
THE CENTURION
23
COMMERCIAL NEWS
LEIGH CENTURIONS
COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
elcome everybody to this
W
evening’s re-arranged
Kingstone Press Championship
By TREVOR BARTON MBE
eigh Centurions Community
Foundation has been busy in our
local schools delivering Rugby and
Dance over the past weeks.
L
Lots to look forward to over the coming weeks! Enjoy
the game!
Trevor
With fantastic help from local head teacher Mr Mark
Grogan, we were able to run a festival for the Atherton
and Tyldesley primary schools where more than 80 pupils
participated. The festival will now become an annual
event after a great experience was had by all.
The May half term camp was a great success with over 60
children in attendance participating in Rugby, Dance and multi
sports over the week. Apprentice tutor and Leigh Centurions Club
Captain Stuart Littler added: “The children have had a fantastic
experience during the week, trying different sports and making
new friends. The camps are getting better each half-term and it is
great to see children from our in-school delivery join us on camp.”
We would like to thank Leigh Sports Village Chief Executive Simon
Toon and his staff for their continued support on all of our
programmes.
Congratulations to
Stuart Littler,
who made the
450th senior
appearance of his
career on loan for
Rochdale Hornets
against Barrow
Raiders recently.
fixture against Halifax.
The last time we both met proved to be one of the most exciting
games of Rugby League that I’ve seen in a long time and to say
that it was a game of two halves would be an understatement.
I’d like to welcome all the travelling supporters along with our
own army of fans as I know they will turn out in great numbers
to witness what should be a great game.
I’m delighted to announce that sponsoring today’s match is
Hamilton Fabrications Limited who are no strangers to either
Club, as I know Phil Penkywicz, MD of Hamilton Fabrication has
been a loyal supporter to both teams over a number of years.
Hamilton Fabrication are the North West’s leading steel
fabricators with state of the art laser cutting
technology.
To find out more, please visit www.hamiltonfab.co.uk or
call 01942 883745.
Match ball sponsor for today’s game is Evans Halshaw who are
one of our official partners. Neil Bassett is the newly appointed
director for the Wigan branch and says: “The partnership we have
formed with Leigh Centurions this year has been a huge success
story and we jumped at the chance to become match ball
sponsors this evening. The game not only offers us a fantastic
way to advertise but to experience first-class entertainment in
first-class surroundings with our valued guests.”
Evans Halshaw have kindly donated the signed match ball to be
raffled off for Stephen O ‘Dwyer to raise funds for a heart
defibrillator in the local community, so please keep an eye in the
local media and our website on how to enter for this great cause.
..................................................................................................
Today we welcome two of our community clubs to enjoy
the match day experience and to see what it’s like to
take to the field for Leigh Centurions. Who knows? We
could be looking at some future stars of our great game.
Performing the guard of honour for our players is Golborne Under
7’s and team mascots are Leigh East Under 7’s. Both of today’s
community clubs will be playing in our half- time tag competition
so be sure to give them a loud cheer.
..................................................................................................
I’d also like to welcome Simon Baldwin, a great player
for both Leigh and Halifax who will be entertaining
guests to the Touchdown Club before kick-off this
evening with stories of his playing days. Simon, or ‘Sid’ as
he is known was a very popular player with both sets of
supporters and I’m sure he will have been looking forward to
MAIN MATCH SPONSOR
24
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
www.leighlife.com
meeting up with some
old friends. For the last
home game Rod Tickle,
a great crowd favourite
of the 1960s and early
1970s, was the guest of
the Touchdown Club
and I know he was
thoroughly impressed
by his visit to LSV and Simon Baldwin
Rod Tickle at LSV
the performance of the
team. For the Barrow game on Sunday I’m delighted to announce
that Tony Barrow, a member of the 1971 Wembley Cup-winning
team will be special guest of the Touchdown Club.
..................................................................................................
Last week we took delivery of two new giant sky dancers who
will be making their debut this evening. The two giants are
certainly impressive and will greatly
add to the atmosphere on the North
Stand. The continued help and
sponsorship of our friends from Park
Leisure has made this possible and
we would like to acknowledge their
great support of the club.
At The Doncaster game Francis and
Francis and Theresa Burton
Theresa Burton represented Park
Leisure in the Touchdown Club and enjoyed a great afternoon
whilst also celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. We look
forward to seeing them again soon.
..................................................................................................
Lastly, looking forward to the Barrow game and with the success
of last year’s “O2 day” we are delighted to confirm that local
band “The Lottery Winners” will be playing another free event
outside the stadium next Sunday. We also have some more family
entertainment ranging from bouncy castles to getting up close
and personal with Crocodile Joe and his exotic range of pets. The
fun starts from 12.30 and will be free to the public.
Thanks again
for all your
support and
enjoy the
game.
Rob Parker,
General
Manager
Crocodile Joe
MATCH BALL SPONSOR
THE CENTURION
25
CHAMPIONSHIP
TALK
By GARETH WALKER
of Rugby Leaguer & League Express
BOBBIE’S BACK!
HERE was little doubt about the
T
story with the most sporting
romance last weekend.
Barrow Raiders coach Bobbie Goulding stepped back
onto a rugby league field for the first time in nine years
and inspired his side to a 38-18 win over Rochdale.
At the age of 42, Goulding had a decisive hand in two
Barrow tries and played an orchestrating role
throughout his 55 minutes on the pitch.
Withdrawn with a slight knock shortly after half-time,
he returned for the closing stages with the game in the
balance at 26-18.
Within minutes he had switched the play to send
Danny Jones over for the decisive try, much to delight
of the vast majority of the 1,058 present at Craven
Park.
The win lifted Barrow off the foot of the table, and
raised hopes that the former Great Britain international
can inspire the kind of successful fight against
relegation he did the last time he was playing, at
Rochdale in 2005.
Then, he kept the club with the smallest budget in the
competition in what was then National League One.
It’s an even tougher test this time before five go down
from the Kingstone Press Championship.
But Goulding is, and always has been, an inspirational
figure, and if he can continue to galvanise those around
him then Raiders will believe it’s possible.
26
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
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He was positively buoyant at the end of the match,
having rallied the home crowd from the pitch
throughout.
“The general was back today!” Goulding smiled at the
end of the game.
“I was gobby as usual, and I really had fun out there.
“It was really surprising that the Rochdale people were
calling me an old fart and an old man, things like that –
what was the score?
“I was really happy with it.”
Goulding is now expected to feature again against
Doncaster this weekend and says he will continue to
play as long as his body holds up.
He also believes there is plenty of improvement left in
his side between now and the end of the campaign.
He added: “We’ll keep chipping away.
“The lads are improving all the time, and we’re doing
basic things at training – hitting the line, catching and
passing, high kicks to the wingers.
“We can play better than that – I haven’t got a doubt
about that.
“Hopefully we can get on a roll and win some more
matches.”
If Goulding continues to defy age – and most people’s
logic – then who knows what will happen. It will
certainly be fascinating to follow.
THE CENTURION
27
LEIGH
CENTURIONS
SQUAD & SPONSORS - 2014
1 Gregg McNally
Marstrut
2 STEVE MADEN
3 Stuart Littler
4 Tom Armstrong
5 Alex Brown
JMS INTERIORS
Marstrut
Junior Centurions
Corlett Electrical
7 Ryan Brierley
8 Tom Spencer
9 Bob Beswick
O Neills
L.I.S.A.
Ask Platt Office Supplies
6 Martyn Ridyard
Integrated Control
Solutions LTD
18 Jamie Acton
C S Civils and
Groundworks
19 Mick Govin
20 Andy Thornley
22 Adam Higson
AB Sundecks
TOMMY SALE MBE
Impact Insurance
23 Jonathan Pownall
24 Craig Briscoe
25 Michael Ostick
26 Ryan Duffy
Grada UK
KREMPFAST/
BRIAN HILL FAMILY
Liniar
DR. DOUBLET-STEWART
27 Anthony Bate
28 Joe Bullock
29 Jake Emmitt
30 KURT HAGGERTY
Taylor Drilling
Prof. BarrIE Dale &
MRS AUDREY DALE
EVANS HALSHAW
K. DARLINGTON & SON
NEXT UP AT LSV
10 Oliver Wilkes
Prof. BarrIE Dale &
MRS AUDREY DALE
11 Matthew Sarsfield
12 Tommy Goulden
13 Sam Barlow
31 CAMERON PITMAN
Pam Ties
CDA Business services
The Shield Group
LEIGH CENTURIONS
FORUM (RLFANS.COM)
14 Sean Penkywicz
15 Liam Kay
16 Martin Aspinwall
17 Matt Gardner
HFL
AB Sundecks
C & S Tyres UK
Liniar
28
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
www.leighlife.com
SUNDAY 15TH JUNE 2014
SUNDAY 29TH JUNE 2014
Kingstone Press
Championship
Round 15
Kingstone Press
Championship
Round 17
CENTURIONS
v
BARROW
RAIDERS
CENTURIONS
v
DEWSBURY
RAMS
Kick-Off 3:00 p.m.
Kick-Off 3:00 p.m.
SEASON TICKETS APPLY
SEASON TICKETS APPLY
THE CENTURION
29
Leigh Centurions use cutting edge
technology to aid recovery
Mobile Cryotherapy Chamber from BOC
Specialis
ts in Mec
hanical,
Specialists
Mechanical,
Electr
ical and Public Healt
h.
Electrical
Health.
-DPHV46/WG‡1HZQKDP6WUHHW‡%ROWRQ‡%/4$‡
D P H V 4 6 / W G ‡ 1 H Z Q K D P 6 W U H H W ‡ % R O W R Q ‡ % / 4 $ ‡ 30
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Whole Body Cryotherapy is now
available anywhere in the UK as
BOC launches its Mobile
Cryotherapy Chamber
After this evening’s game against
Halifax during their tough sequence of
three games in nine days, Paul
Rowley’s players will be using the
mobile Cryotherapy chamber that has
been used by a number of
professional clubs from around the
country including Saracens RFC and
Warrington Wolves.
Leading Design Features
• A -60ºC ‘pre-chamber’, in which
users spend one minute before
entering the main -135ºC
chamber for two minutes.
• A 2-person chamber, large
enough to allow users to walk
around during the treatment.
• A specially designed Cryotherapy
trailer to allow the chamber to be
taken anywhere in the country.
• A robust air monitoring kit and a
BOC onsite expert operator, fully
trained in cryogenic gas handling
who ensures user safety at all
times.
• The chamber has been assessed
by BOC’s world renowned experts
to ensure it meets official UK
www.leighlife.com
Health and Safety Executive
standards.
The mobile Cryochamber allows
individual and whole squad
treatments to be undertaken at
training grounds, sports centres,
stadiums or any other suitable
location throughout the UK.
Paul Rowley Head coach of Leigh
Centurions, said: “ I would personally
like to thank Harry Pilling from BOC
who has been instrumental in making
their services available for our players.
This is a tough period for our players
and anything that will aid recovery at
this point is vital to our season.”
THE CENTURION
31
NEW SKILLS
PROGRAMME
our months ago saw the start
of first team players Michael
Ostick, Tom Spencer and Liam Kay
take up the delivery of Leigh
Community Trust’s New Skills
programme funded by the Big
Lottery’s Reaching Communities
Fund.
The lads had previously spent three months working
on the delivery design with Trust Manager Hannah
Forbes before they 'unleashed' it on pupils from
Westleigh High school and the Young Offenders team.
The New Skills programme is a 6 month pogramme that aims
to increase the employability of 14-19 year old young NEET
residents through changing beneficiaries' attitudes towards
learning, work and employment by providing an environment
at the Leigh Sports Village that motivates them and delivering
several different elements of the course using sport as an
innovative vehicle to engagement.
The 3 lads are amazing at keeping the participants engaged
F
32
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www.leighlife.com
in activities, which is not always easy with low attention
spans and little or no concentration (that's the participants
not the lads!). The programme is in full swing now and pupils
from Westleigh High are really enjoying the sessions,
participant Nikita Miller said of her time on the course so far.
"Coming to the New Skills Programme is so different from
school, Oz, Liam and 'Spenner' are more like your friends than
teachers and make the sessions really relaxed and fun. I really
like taking part in sport and have tried out loads of different
sports through the programme, coming to the sessions each
week has really helped me to focus better at school and has
really increased my confidence. I would have never thought
about volunteering until I worked on the programme, now I'm
working towards achieving my ASDAN Community
Volunteering qualification and I'm really enjoying it"
As testament to the great work and remarkable
rapport the lads have with the kids, the Westleigh
High participants have spent their Easter holidays
and May half term attending the programme in their
own time to continue with their training and
qualifications.
THE CENTURION
33
Q&A
Leigh
Centurions
SAM BARLOW
Name
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Height
Weight
Chest size
Waist size
Boot size
Eye colour
Sam Barlow
7 March 1988
Halifax
6ft 3in
115kg
48”
34”
10
Blue
My Best characteristics
Relaxed
My Bad Habits
Training too hard (over-training),
expensive clothes
My Phobias
Confined spaces
Who I look up to - Josh Barlow
My Sporting hero
Josh Barlow/Matt Sarsfield
My best event at London
2012 would have been
Discus
Sport I like to watch
Squash
Famous person I would most
like to have dinner with & why
Liam Kay, Matt Sarsfield and
me- three sorts together
Famous person I would hate to
be stuck in a lift with and why
Jamie Acton and Tom Spencer,
that would be hard
My most treasured item
My house
My hobbies
Lunch with Sarsy, Squash
Music I listen to
Happy House
A good night out
Manchester
My motto in life
Moderation is for cowards
My Rugby League dream team
1 Gregg McNally
2 AJ Higson
3 Cameron Pitman
4 Tom Armstrong
5 Liam Kay
6 Martyn Ridyard
7 Ryan Brierley
8 Jamie Acton
9 Bob Beswick
10 Tom Spencer
11 Matt Sarsfield
12 Tommy Goulden
13 Sam Barlow
For all your property requirements contact
Simon Cooke
Fairclough House, 51 Lord Street, Leigh WN7 1BY
Tel 01942 603000 Fax 01942 603442
email [email protected] web www.cookeandcompany.co.uk
34
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
www.leighlife.com
THE CENTURION
35
FACTS & STATS
DOB
Squad No
Apps
Subs Tries Goals
DG
Points
Leigh Career
Apps
Acton, Jamie
Armstrong, Tom
Aspinwall, Martin
Barlow, Sam
Bate, Anthony
Beswick, Bob
Brierley, Ryan
Briscoe, Craig
Brown, Alex
Bullock, Joe
Duffy, Ryan
Emmitt, Jake
Foster, Lewis
Gardner, Matt
Goulden, Tommy
Govin, Mick
Haggerty, Kurt
Hankinson, Chris
Higson, Adam
Hopkins, Sam
Kay, Liam
Littler, Stuart
Maden, Steve
McNally, Gregg
Ostick, Michael
Penkywicz, Sean
Pitman, Cameron
Pownall, Jonny
Ridyard, Martyn
Sarsfield, Matt
Spencer, Tom
Thornley, Andy
Wilkes, Oliver
Total
04/04/1992
12/09/1989
21/10/1981
07/03/1988
28/04/1992
08/12/1984
12/03/1992
08/12/1992
28/08/1987
27/11/1992
13/05/1993
04/10/1988
21/12/1993
24/08/1984
30/06/1981
05/12/1984
08/01/1989
30/11/1993
19/05/1987
17/02/1990
17/12/1991
19/02/1979
13/09/1982
02/01/1991
23/01/1988
18/05/1982
09/07/1989
22/08/1991
25/07/1986
10/09/1991
02/01/1991
01/03/1989
02/05/1980
18
4
16
13
27
9
7
5
24
28
26
29
3
15
3
10
3
10
16
0
2
0
4
4
0
0
14
0
7
0
14
5
14
7
0
16
0
6
10
3
15
11
13
0
3
208
17
12
19
30
22
35
15
3
2
1
25
14
31
23
6
11
8
20
10
Goals
Attempts
%
Martyn Ridyard
78
101
77
Ryan Brierley
18
23
78
0-9
10-19
20-29
30-40
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-80
(MINUTES)
For
12
16
13
15
12
16
20
14
118
0
8
0
1
0
5
27
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
7
0
6
1
9
1
16
1
0
11
0
5
3
2
1
5
4
0
3
118
0
0
0
0
0
0
18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
78
0
0
0
0
96
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
32
0
4
0
20
145
0
0
0
4
4
0
0
28
0
24
4
36
4
64
4
0
44
0
20
12
8
161
20
16
0
12
666
3
24
12
10
6
65
46
28
2
1
9
10
0
58
112
21
15
0
59
40
14
100
206
76
46
18
11
51
137
11
38
26
42
8
6
3
4
8
9
26
24
0
6
18
18
1
0
10
18
8
1
22
32
2
1
3
0
8
27
0
1
10
0
22
44
17
0
15
0
1
2
13
77
8
0
0
5
9
0
26
46
9
9
1
26
27
16
32
73
42
5
15
3
32
63
5
11
10
12
Goals
DG
Points
Total
Leigh Apps
0
0
0
0
0
0
24
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
31
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
20
0
0
0
0
358
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
60
0
4
8
53
359
32
0
0
20
36
0
104
184
98
36
4
104
108
64
128
292
208
20
60
12
128
973
20
44
40
48
11
30
15
14
14
74
72
52
2
7
27
28
1
58
122
39
23
1
81
72
16
101
209
76
54
45
11
52
147
11
60
70
59
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Goal Kicking
TRY TRACKER
8
0
0
4
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
11
1
0
0
0
6
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
3
2
12
64
Subs Tries
Against
5
8
6
5
4
7
4
8
47
Leigh Centurions
Featherstone Rovers
Doncaster
Halifax
Dewsbury Rams
Keighley Cougars
Sheffield Eagles
Whitehaven
Batley Bulldogs
Workington Town
North Wales Crusaders
Rochdale Hornets
Barrow Raiders
Swinton Lions
P
13
13
13
13
13
13
12
13
13
13
13
12
13
13
W
13
10
9
7
8
7
6
7
5
3
5
4
3
2
D
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
L
0
3
4
5
5
6
6
6
8
9
8
8
10
11
BP
0
2
2
5
2
2
4
1
5
7
3
2
4
5
F
538
416
320
330
343
311
350
245
240
198
219
207
260
269
A
212
228
305
236
300
307
292
342
301
275
317
346
394
391
DIFF
326
188
15
94
43
4
58
-97
-61
-77
-98
-139
-134
-122
PTS
39
32
29
28
26
23
22
22
20
18
18
14
13
11
with thanks to Dave Parkinson
36
THE CENTU RION
www.leighcenturions.com
www.leighlife.com
THE CENTURION
37
38
THE CENTU RION
Date
16
1
Apr
17
30
7
24
25
26
Sep
10
3
22
23
27
21
Aug
19
20
6
18
13
29
17
19
22
16
Jul
15
15
a
6
11
1
14
a
25
13
Jun
12
North Wales
At LSV
a1
Workington
Swinton
Featherstone
Batley
Rochdale
Keighley
Doncaster
Sheffield
Dewsbury
Whitehaven
Barrow
Halifax
Leeds (CC6)
Workington
Sheffield
Doncaster
Dewsbury
Featherstone
Featherstone (CC5)
Swinton
Halifax
Rochdale (CC4)
Rochdale
North Wales
2-30pm
3pm
3pm
3pm
2pm
3pm
6-30pm
3pm
3pm
3pm
3pm
3pm
8pm
3pm
3pm
2pm
3pm
3pm
3pm
3pm
Noon
3pm
2pm
3pm
3pm
7-30pm
3pm
3pm
2pm
3pm
KO
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
Res
16
12
20
12
10
16
24
28
22
22
22
6
26
0
8
12
A
666 256
28
54
50
28
29
26
60
36
28
34
35
74
28
52
52
52
F
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
-
1st
1st
-
1st
1st
-
1st
1st
1st
1st
Pos'n
814
1151
2132
1193
3230
3664
2219
2282
1284
1756
2135
994
1309
2006
1252
2173
Att
Higson 2T
Higson
Higson T
Higson T
2
Higson
Higson
Higson
Higson 3T
Higson
Pownall
Pownall
Higson T
Higson
Higson
Debutants in BOLD
McNally
McNally T
McNally T
McNally
McNally T
McNally
McNally 2T Higson
McNally
McNally T
McNally T
McNally
McNally 2T Higson 2T
McNally
McNally T
McNally T
McNally
1
Pitman
Pitman
Pitman T
Pitman
Pitman T
Pitman
Pitman T
Pitman
Pitman
Pitman
Littler
Littler
Littler
Littler
Littler
Littler T
3
5
Brown
Brown
Kay
Kay
Kay
Kay 2T
Kay T
Pownall 2T
Armstrong
Armstrong
Armstrong T
Armstrong
Armstrong
Armstrong
Kay T
Kay 4T
Kay
Kay T
Kay 2T
Kay T
Armstrong 2T Kay 3T
Armstrong T
Littler
Armstrong T
Armstrong
Armstrong
Armstrong T
Armstrong 2T Kay T
Armstrong
Armstrong
4
7
Ridyard 4G
Ridyard 8G
Ridyard 7G
Ridyard 4G
Ridyard 4G
Ridyard 2G
Brierley
Ridyard 6G
Spencer T
Spencer
Brierley 2T
Spencer
Emmitt
Spencer
Brierley T
Brierley T, G
Brierley T
Brierley 2T
Spencer
Spencer
Spencer
Spencer T
Brierley T, DG Spencer
Brierley 3T, G Wilkes
Ridyard 8G
Brierley 2T
Spencer
Spencer
Brierley 11G Acton
Brierley T
Brierley 3T, 2G Spencer
Brierley 5T
Ridyard T, 4G Brierley T
Ridyard 5G
8
9
Aspinwall
Aspinwall
Duffy
Duffy
10
Barlow
Emmitt
Emmitt
Hopkins
Duffy
Acton
Wilkes
Wilkes 2T
Acton
Aspinwall
Penkywicz T Bate
Beswick T
Beswick T
Beswick
Beswick
Penkywicz
Penkywicz
Penywicz
Penkywicz
Beswick
Beswick
Penkywicz 2T Duffy T
Beswick T
Beswick
Beswick T
Brierley 3T, 3G Spencer 2T Beswick T
Ridyard 3G, DG Brierley T
Kay
Ridyard 4G
Ridyard 6G
Ridyard 8G
Ridyard 5G
6
12
Goulden T
Haggerty
Goulden
Goulden
Goulden T
Goulden T
Goulden
Haggerty
Goulden
Sarsfield 2T Goulden
Haggerty
Sarsfield T
Haggerty T
Sarsfield
Sarsfield
Barlow
Barlow
Barlow
Barlow
13
Barlow
Bate
Hopkins
Hopkins
Emmitt
Barlow
Barlow
Hopkins
Hopkins
Barlow
Barlow
Goulden 2T Bate
Goulden
Goulden T
Goulden T
Haggerty 2T Goulden
Sarsfield T
Sarsfield
Haggerty
Sarsfield
Haggerty T
Sarsfield
Sarsfield
Sarsfield
Sarsfield T Goulden
11
Beswick
Penkywicz T
Foster
Penkywicz
Penkywicz
Beswick
Spencer
Beswick
Beswick
Penkywicz
Wilkes T
Hankinson T
Penkywicz
Penkywicz
Kay
Kay
14
Wilkes
Acton
Wilkes
Wilkes
Acton
Hopkins
Beswick
Acton
Thornley
Thornley
17
Emmitt
Barlow
Emmitt
Emmitt
Acton
Barlow
Wilkes
Leatherbarrow
Sharpe
Bloem
Stokes
Woodhead
Leatherbarrow
Merrick
Leatherbarrow
Thomason
Referee
Merrick
Leatherbarrow
Acton
Wilkes
Hewer
Thomason
Haggerty T Crashley
Acton
Barlow
Thaler
Hopkins T Gill
Emmitt
Emmitt
Emmitt
Haggerty T Spencer
Wilkes
Barlow T
Acton
Wilkes
Haggerty
Emmitt
Haggerty Emmitt
Haggerty Emmitt T
Acton
Haggerty Emmitt
16
Penkywicz T Emmitt
Spencer
Wilkes
Wilkes
Wilkes
Wilkes
15
RESULTS & FIXTURES 2014
Wigan St Pat's (CC3)
Keighley
Whitehaven
Barrow
Batley
Opponents
a
h
a
h
a
a
h
a
h
h
a
h
h
a
h
18
a
11
11
a
10
4
h
May
27
9
h
18
8
a
13
a
h
7
6
30
6
h
a1
23
a
14
h
a
h
Ven
9
5
4
2
3
Mar
23
2
Feb
No. Month
www.leighcenturions.com
LEIGH CENTURIONS
SQUAD - 2014
No
PLAYER
HEAD COACH PAUL ROWLEY
SPONSOR
1
Gregg McNally
Marstrut
2
Steve Maden
JMS Interiors
3
Stuart Littler
Marstrut
4
Tom Armstrong
Junior Centurions
5
Alex Brown
Corlett Electrical
6
Martyn Ridyard
Integrated Control Solutions LTD
7
Ryan Brierley
O Neills
8
Tom Spencer
L.I.S.A.
9
Bob Beswick
Ask Platt Office Supplies
10
Oliver Wilkes
Prof. BarrIE Dale & MRS AUDREY DALE
11
Matthew Sarsfield
Pam Ties
12
Tommy Goulden
CDA Business services
13
Sam Barlow
The Shield Group
14
Sean Penkywicz
HFL
15
Liam Kay
AB Sundecks
16
Martin Aspinwall
C & S Tyres UK
17
Matt Gardner
Liniar
18
Jamie Acton
19
Mick Govin
AB Sundecks
20
Andy Thornley
TOMMY SALE MBE
C S Civils and Groundworks
21
22
Adam Higson
Impact Insurance
23
Jonathan Pownall
Grada UK
24
Craig Briscoe
KREMPFAST/BRIAN HILL FAMILY
25
Michael Ostick
Liniar
26
Ryan Duffy
DR. DOUBLET-STEWART
27
Anthony Bate
Taylor Drilling
28
Joe Bullock
Prof. BarrIE Dale & MRS AUDREY DALE
29
Jake Emmitt
EVANS HALSHAW
30
KURT HAGGERTY
K. DARLINGTON & SON
31
CAMERON PITMAN
LEIGH CENTURIONS FORUM (RLFANS.COM)
35
SAM HOPKINS
SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
OFFICIALS
Referee: MR C LEATHERBARROW
Touch Judges: MR S. ANSELL,
MR J. CALLAGHAN
RESERVE: MR T SELBY
MATCH COMMISSIONER: MR R CONNOLLY
Programme designed and printed by Graphic Press 0151 236 8022