Now - Leigh Centurions

Proud to be sponsoring the Challenge Cup with our Carnegie faculty
faculty.
culty
FOURTH
H ROUND
14th/15th
th April 2012
Sunday 15th April 2012,
Kick-off 3:00 p.m.
Leigh Centurions
v Rochdale Hornets
Matchday Host
THE
CENTURION
WHO’S WHO
AT LEIGH CENTURIONS
Hon. Life Presidents:
Mr. Tommy Sale MBE,
Mr. Arthur Thomas.
Hon. Life Members:
Mr. Brian Bowman,
Mr. Tommy Coleman.
Chairman:
Mr. Keith Freer.
Directors:
Mr. Phil Coffey; Mr. John Roddy,
Ms Miranda Barker
Company Secretary: Mr. John Massey.
“Studying at Leeds Met
has allowed me to gain
a relevant qualification
whilst pursuing my
sporting ambitions,
which include competing
at this year’s London 2012
Olympic Games.”
FROM THE TOP
Jo Jackson, Commonwealth champion
Leeds Metropolitan University student
By CEO Trevor Barton MBE
I thought that the win against Swinton
on Good Friday was very impressive.
Our youngsters are definitely maturing
and to score seven tries to one, in the
controlled manner that we did, was
very satisfying. Breaking the 2,000
barrier with the crowd was even more
so. Let us hope today marks the
beginning of an exciting and lucrative
Cup run but, of course, we will not be
taking Rochdale for granted.
When I heard our team singing in the
changing rooms after the Swinton game, I
thought that the gusto of their singing
showed how much of a real team they have
started to become.
What is Carnegie?
Swinton has a squad of 30+, 13 ex-Leigh
players and a very good Coach. Our squad
Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish
entrepreneur, also believed education was
the key to a better society, and almost 80
years ago a gift from him established a PE
teacher training college - Carnegie College
- our predecessor institution. One of the
college’s first students, rugby’s legendary
Eric Harris, scored a famous try when
Leeds won the Challenge Cup at Wembley
back in 1936 whilst our former students
include Stuart Lancaster, Ricky Wilson and
Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield.
Our partnership with the RFL brings
many benefits for all of our students
across a range of disciplines including
PR, events management and sports
marketing who can access real life work
experience, volunteering opportunities,
research projects, major event experience,
knowledge transfer and unique ‘money
can’t buy‘ experiences.
is somewhat smaller and even more so now
because of the departure of Michael
Worrincy. Michael’s return to London for
his daytime job was the driving force, and
we wish him well in his new role at London
Skolars. Richie, Paul and I know that to
operationally run the Club with a small
squad and a limited budget is not easy.
presentation on ‘You’ll Never Watch Alone’,
which is a great idea and should benefit
enormously our disabled colleagues, no
matter what their disability is.
We will be having a Fan’s Forum on
Wednesday, 25th April in the Banqueting
Suite, starting at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are
available free of charge, at the ticket office.
Lastly, I cannot tell you how proud I was of
Parky Pig this week, in filling the lottery van
and then having two cars in convoy, packed
to the gunwales with Easter eggs. They
went down to the Royal Children’s Hospital
at Pendlebury with over 1,000 Easter eggs,
which had been donated by fans and local
companies, in the generous way you would
only expect from our Leigh public.
We will be having a presentation from the
Auditing Team of the Professional Support
Group, so fans will get a pretty detailed
insight as to how the Club’s fortunes are
progressing. That will be followed by a
report on the Done4Us project and then a
If you know of people who would like to
come to the rugby, but cannot for a whole
host of reasons, please let me know and we
will see what we can do to help.
HONOURS AND RECORDS
Leeds Metropolitan University’s vision is to be acknowledged
for our commitment to student success, our innovation and
enterprise, our global reach and strong local impact.
We know that a Leeds Metropolitan
education helps our students achieve their
potential, in addition to the wider social
and economic benefits our university
brings.
Lottery Manager:
Ms. Christine Brown.
Lottery Co-ordinator:
Mr. Jonathan Simpkin.
Finance Manager:
Ms. Jane Smith.
Webmaster & Ticket Sales:
Mr. Andrew Parkinson.
Honorary Programme Editor:
Mr. Alan Edge
Club Accountants:
Styles & Co.
Chief Executive:
Mr. Trevor Barton MBE.
Head Coach:
Mr. Paul Rowley.
Player Performance Manager:
Mr. Gary Eccleston.
Club Ambassador:
Mr. Alex Murphy OBE.
Business Development Manager:
Mr. Richie Blackmore
Commercial Manager:
Ms. Annette Unsworth.
Leeds Metropolitan University proud to sponsor the Challenge
Cup with our Carnegie Faculty
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
www.LeighLife.com
LHF National League 1 Champions: 2004
LHF National League 1 Grand Final Winners: 2004
Northern Rail Cup Winners: 2006, 2011
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)
Page 3
THE
CENTURION
THE
CENTURION
FROM THE
O N
EDITORIAL TEAM
Y O U R
S I D E
By ALAN EDGE
TODAY’S VISITORS
Championship Table
This afternoon, we bid a warm ‘Leyther’ welcome, on their first
visit to Leigh Sports Village stadium, to our close neighbours,
Rochdale Hornets. It’s been a few years since we enjoyed regular
tussles with the Hornets and we look forward to doing so again
from next season, when it is hoped that John Stankevitch’s side
secures one of the four available promotion spots, from
Championship One. Previous encounters between Leigh and
Rochdale have invariably been high-scoring, closely fought
games, and today’s Challenge Cup tie could well follow that
pattern, with the prospect of a lucrative fifth round tie at stake.
I have had a request to include the latest Championship table, in ‘The
Centurion’, so here it is after four rounds of games.
CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE
- as at 10/4/2012
Carnegie Challenge Cup
The fourth round draw ensured that six clubs from the Championships
will figure in the fifth round, which will be played on the weekend of
28th/29th April. At the time of going to press, details of when the
draw will take place were not available.
The Best of British
Two things have struck me, when reading Nathan Lawrenson’s excellent
interviews with opposing coaches. So far, all our opposing coaches
have expressed their delight that Paul Rowley was appointed Head
Coach here at Leigh, and given the opportunity ahead of any overseas’
candidates. And all the coaches we have interviewed have been British
– Darren Holt, (Barrow) Barry Eaton, (Hunslet) John Kear, (Batley) Chris
Thorman, (York) Steve McCormack, (Swinton) and today’s opposing
coach, John Stankevitch. (Rochdale) In fact, a closer look at the
remainder of our scheduled Championship fixtures would reveal even
more British coaches, in the form of Mark Aston, (Sheffield) Daryl
Powell, (Featherstone) Warren Jowitt, (Dewsbury) and Karl Harrison,
(Halifax) with only Keighley’s Australian born coach Jason Demetriou
spoiling the all-British round-up – and even he’s been in the UK for
over a decade, now!
Championship One currently has four overseas’ coaches, (Don Gailer at
Whitehaven, Joe Mbu at Skolars, Tony Benson at Oldham, and Dave
Clark at Scorpions) whilst in Super League, over half the coaches (eight)
hail from the Sothern Hemisphere. So, at the moment it looks like the
Championship is flying the flag for Britain – at least on the coaching
front.
Team
Halifax
Sheffield
Featherstone
Keighley
Dewsbury
Batley
Leigh
Hunslet
Swinton
York
P
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
W
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
D
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
L
0
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
4
PF
131
174
122
82
92
68
108
66
68
40
PA
66
134
100
49
68
70
70
138
146
110
Diff
65
40
22
33
24
-2
38
-72
-78
-70
Bns
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
0
0
1
Pts
12
9
9
8
8
8
7
3
3
1
Supporting the Centurions in 2012
Sing when you’re winning...
What I initially found alarming was that we had over 50% success,
(including our bonus point against Batley) yet only had three teams
below us in the table! However, a closer examination of results to date,
would suggest that the Championship could well be a more closely
fought affair this season.
Example 1: - We lost fairly convincingly, against Batley, who then lost
in similar fashion to Swinton, yet we managed to beat Swinton,
comprehensively last week.
Example 2: - Halifax went to Sheffield, then the only unbeaten team in
British RL, and scored 50 points. The following week, Sheffield travelled
to red-hot favourites Featherstone, and scored 60 points!
And our next two fixtures? Well, they are away, to Halifax and Sheffield
so, looking at the table, here’s hoping that the unpredictable nature of
the Championship continues!
Fans’ Forum
The next Fan’s Forum will be held in the LSV Banqueting Suite, on
Wednesday 25th April, commencing at 7:30 p.m. See Trevor Barton’s
article, on the previous page, for details of the agenda.
Good luck to the team today. We’re behind you all the way.
If you’ve been affected by a personal injury that wasn’t your fault, no matter how big or small you
could be entitled to compensation. At Hattons we like to think positively about every problem we
face, helping in every way we can. You can rely on us to be on your side when you need it most.
For FREE initial legal advice on personal injury talk to your
local team on 08000 111 713 or visit www.hattonslaw.com
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS / HEALTH CLAIMS / WILLS & PROBATE / FAMILY LAW / BUSINESS LAW
Page 4
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Page 5
THE
THE
CENTURION
Page 6
CENTURION
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THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
So who really cares about me?
ESTABLISHED SINCE 1878With our
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many offices across the North West we are ideally placed to
Accidents : Slipping,
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Contact Sharon Ferguson
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call us at Leigh on 01942 673311Offices
at Leigh,Wigan,Warrington, Hindley,Westhoughton and Chester.e-mail:
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www.leighcenturions.com
www.LeighLife.com
Page 9
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
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The way you want them to be
W e a re n o w re g i s t e r i n g NHS p a t i e n t s
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Page 10
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www.LeighLife.com
Page 11
THE
CENTURION
COMMERCIALNEWS
Good for every pass, every tackle,
every feint, every grubber,
every up and under, every play the
ball, every restart, every dropout,
every scrum, every turnover, every
hooter, every player, every fan.
WITH ANNETTE USWORTH
TODAY’S MATCHDAY HOST
LAST MATCH
LEIGH V SWINTON
WILKINSON STORE OPENING
Our very own Parky Pig and captain John Duffy opening the newly
revamped Wilkinsons store in Leigh
Matchday sponsor Andy from S.R. Waite is pictured with
Man of the Match James Taylor
WIGAN & LEIGH HOSPICE
Wigan and Leigh Hospice send their thanks to everyone who donated in
any way at the Swinton match, they really enjoyed their day with us, and
we enjoyed our visit to the Hospice with Parky Pig.
Matchday sponsor Matt with James Taylor
OUR
MASCOT
V
SWINTON
Oliver Disley
www.LeighLife.com
Page 13
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
ALAN EDGE
CAPTAIN’S LOG
A VIEW FROM UNDER A FLAT CAP
JOHN DUFFY TALKS WITH DAVE PARKINSON
Views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the Leigh
Centurions club, or its Directors!
NO BULL(S)?
“There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the
bull by the tail and face the situation.” W.C. Fields.
One major story has been gripping
the world of rugby league, this past
fortnight – the appalling mess that
Bradford Bulls find themselves in,
after their bankers, RBS, appeared to
have pulled the plug on the SL club.
The Bulls claim that RBS suddenly and
drastically cut their overdraft facility
– a claim that the Bank refutes,
stating that, “the Bulls main security
was the lease on the stadium, which
they recently sold, (to the RFL) and
Beleagured Bradford Bulls
we have not been provided with
chairman Peter Hood.
replacement security.”
The sale of the lease enabled the Bulls, according to chairman Peter
Hood, “to redeem all our SLE advances, (reported to be in the order of
£700k) pay the taxman and ease our creditor position.” The Bulls have
to find £1m by the end of April, to stave off the threat of
administration, which would, as a minimum, spell the end of their love
affair with Sooper Dooper League. Whilst it looks as though they will
have met their initial deadline, of raising £500k by the end of Easter,
sourcing the rest of their ultimate target could prove much tougher.
The Bulls have asked
their 10,000 season
ticket holders, who
admittedly benefitted
from a ridiculously
cheap deal, to stump
up £100 each, to ward
off the crisis. The club
Bradford Bulls are attempting to put the boot
has received generous
into their bankers
donations from the RL
family, the most notable being £10k plus 600 tickets for Monday’s game
at Widnes, from Vikings’ chairman Steve O’Connor - well, you never
know when you might need to call in a favour, do you?!
Of course, if only for the sake of the club’s employees and loyal fans,
we should all hope that the Bulls can raise the necessary cash, but
what would happen then? Would Bradford embark on another
spending spree, to entice more less-than-brilliant players to Odsal?
(or whatever it’s called
these days) We are told that
Bradford have spent the
maximum allowed under
the Salary Cap, in all but
one season – 2011.
What is of even greater
concern, is that Bradford
The Grattan Stadium - now owned by
probably only represents
the RFL.
the tip of the financial
Page 14
disaster ice-berg that ‘Titanic SL’ is merrily sailing towards. Peter Hood
reckons that, “From 2004 to 2010, the average operating loss of an
English SL club rose ten-fold, from £50k, to more than £500k each year!
The average SL club is technically insolvent, to the tune of £2.7M.” He
admits that, “Since 2009, at various times and for various reasons, the
Bradford club has been bailed out by SLE, to the tune of £1.25M, in
total!”
Hood’s claims are backed up by Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell, who has
never been noted for holding back on the subject of SL finances.
Hudgell lays the blame squarely (if not fairly!) at the feet of the RFL,
believing the game to be ‘bankrupt’ and that “the governing body
continues to invest widely in the expansionist model, whilst at the
same time, seemingly turning a blind eye to the financial instability of
many of its elite clubs, mine included.” There seems to be no
recognition that some of those ‘elite clubs’ might have contributed,
big time, to their own ‘financial instability’! Indeed the RFL, in their
response to Mr Hudgell may have been alluding to just that, in pointing
out that they now cough up more money to individual clubs, than ever
before!
Dave Parkinson caught up with Centurions’
skipper John Duffy who missed the last
game through injury and assisted Paul
Rowley from the stand.
In the aftermath of the Swinton game, it
turned into quite a handsome win in the
end, but they did work Leigh hard at
times?
Yeah definitely, they showed some good shape, especially on our right edge.
With Watto's little kicks as well they caused trouble when they came off for
them. We knew they had some clever players and they did exactly what we
thought. We came away with a good win in the end and expressed ourselves,
scoring some good tries.
Ryan Brierley's speed and skill sets up Steve Maden's second try.
A Solution?
Mr Hudgell, and his Saints’ counterpart, Eamon McManus, offer
a solution to this mess, but their proposal certainly seems to
carry sinister undertones.
They reckon that the current SL just can’t support fourteen teams, and
that there should be a reduction, back to twelve. That would certainly
provide more funding, in that the SKY pie would only be divvied up
twelve ways, instead of fourteen! However, neither of these gentlemen
offers a suggestion on who the two sacrificial lambs would be,
although it’s a safe bet that they hadn’t got their clubs in mind! No
wonder Mr O’Connor appears to be trying to gain friends in SL – not
to mention Stobart’s sponsorship of the competition!
Meanwhile, we wish our fellow supporters at the Bulls, the best of
luck in their battle for survival. We know exactly what they are going
through – although it’s probably reasonable to suppose that the
generosity of our neighbours from Widnes, towards us, was probably
restricted to what happened ON the pitch last season!
with and against before; were you gutted not to take part against
Swinton?
I was and I said in the boardroom before the Swinton game, with the kickoff so early it was like going back to when you were younger. I was buzzing
on the morning of the game. I just wanted to play and was shouting my head
off in the stand.
Martyn Ridyard's joy was short-lived as the referee disallowed his 'try'
against Swinton.
Now you missed this one, are you looking at being back for the next
game?
Hopefully, hopefully, I'll be there.
You always say that!
We'll just have to see how it goes, but if I can play, I'll definitely be there!
There was a big ex-Leigh contingent and players that you've played
That was noted!
I just wanted to get out there and on that field with the boys, because they
were enjoying themselves.
During the second half of the game there were no points conceded,
for the second game in succession; the defence is looking good.
I think I mentioned it before; intensity has gone up in training. Everyone is
working their socks off when we get to training. It's showing out there on the
pitch and I think one of the main things from me, which gets us on the front
foot, is our kick pressure after our line speed. You can see that. I watched that
and you could see how good it was. It's a big UP to all the boys really!
Have you any particular Rochdale memories?
Other than working there in the past, not really! That said on a different
tangent, I know John Stankevitch well from when I was at Widnes. He's a
great coach. We are going to have to work hard and be ready for them. They
will certainly be ready to play.
A FRENCH FARCE
Details have recently emerged, from France, of the ‘Anglo-French’
(actually, they probably call it the Franco-English!) cup
competition, to be contested on Jubilee weekend, in June.
The competition will involve the top four Championship clubs from
2011 and the top three French clubs of this season, plus Toulouse, who
currently don’t occupy a top four place! Leigh are deemed to have
finished third in the Championship, even though they finished second,
but that ‘third’ place earns them a home game against the third placed
French team. (or will that be second placed?)
It was originally intended that each English team would play each
French team, but it looks like it is going to be just one game each now.
It has not yet been divulged how the winners are going to be decided!
We await further leaks from France, when their competition is finished.
www.leighcenturions.com
Tommy Gallagher drives
the ball in against his
former club Swinton.
www.LeighLife.com
Page 15
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
OUR
VISITORS
ROCHDALE HORNETS
THREE TO WATCH
STEPHEN BANNISTER
By Dave Parkinson
We welcome Rochdale Hornets for their first visit to the Sports
Village, as games with Leigh have been few and far between since
Hornets dropped out of the Championship.
It would be fair to say that, like Swinton last week, there is more than
a passing clutch of ex Leigh players, who will be keen to put one over
their former side. Hornets’ boss John Stankevitch is one of the rising
names in the coaching arena and has assembled a fair squad that
should see Rochdale push hard for one of the four promotion spots
from Championship One. Over the years, Rochdale have played an
entertaining brand of rugby league and that continues under the
guidance of Stankevitch, who combines the role of Head Coach, with
that of a Board member, as Sporting Director.
Their last outing was a fiercely contested local derby with Oldham, in
which they scored four tries and had an outstanding display from
former Leigh East player Gary Middlehurst, who is set for an extended
spell on the sidelines having been sent off for an alleged kicking
incident in Rochdale’s 54-18 win over North Wales Crusaders, in
Wrexham. Wales seems to be causing controversy for Rochdale this
season. They are still to play an outstanding Northern Rail Cup game
against South Wales Scorpions, after the first tie was postponed, due
to bad weather conditions. Several dates have since been arranged
with Scorpions, but the game still hasn’t taken place.
Rochdale reached this stage of the Carnegie Challenge Cup following
an entertaining 48-20 win over East Hull. The Hull amateur side gave
a really good account of themselves before Rochdale's professional
know-how came to fruition.
ROCHDALE BY NUMBERS
2011
2009
2007
1991
1990
1988
1922
1919
1911
1871
1481
733
Page 16
Rochdale lost to Keighley in the Championship One playoffs following an outstanding game at Cougar Park
Hornets went into administration but thankfully a new
Hornets rose from the ashes, when a fans co-operative
was formed.
Rochdale had to release their entire squad, who were all
declared free agents, and were relegated into
Championship One.
The club last appeared in a domestic final back in 1991
when they were edged out by Widnes in the Lancashire
Cup.
Hornets were promoted to the first division. They lasted
just one season.
The club left its historic Athletic Ground home and
moved to Spotland
Hornets won the Challenge Cup for the only time in their
history with a 10-9 success over Hull at Headingley. (The
season following Leigh’s first Challenge Cup Final victory)
Hornets won the Lancashire League.
Rochdale won their first club honour with a Lancashire
Cup. They went on to win it again in 1914 and 1918.
Hornets were formed, following the amalgamation of
three clubs.
Walter Gowers still has the Rochdale club record for
points in a career.
Club stalwart Walter Gowers amassed 733 goals in his
career with Hornets.
455
350
120
106
103
44
Gowers played in a record 455 games in a 14 year career
(1922-36)
Points in a season record for the club, set by Mick Nanyn
in 2003
Rochdale won a Challenge Cup tie against Illingworth, by
120-4, in 2005.
Rochdale conceded their heaviest defeat in 2007 with a
106-0 defeat to Castleford.
Jack Williams set the club try scoring record during a six
year stint (1931-37)
Lee Birdseye notched 44 points in Hornets record 120-4
win over Illingworth. This included 18 goals.
Bannister originally came through at St Helens and made a few appearances for their first
team, before moving on loan to Whitehaven in 2007, and then to Harlequins later that season.
His early career path then led to Salford City Reds. He had a magnificent 2008 and looked
set for a long career in the top flight, before Salford withdrew their offer of a Super League
contract. Once released, he linked with Widnes but a training accident resulted in a broken
leg and he missed a huge swathe of their 2009 season, making only a handful of appearances
before being sent out on loan. Halifax then acquired his services and, with Dave Larder as his
foil in the Fax back row, Bannister certainly made an impression and earned a deal for 2010
and 2011. He didn't disappoint at the Shay either with 7 tries from 25 games in 2010 and 8 in
26 last term. Surprisingly, Bannister was then culled by incoming boss Karl Harrison and did
a short stint in France with Avignon, before linking with Rochdale. A forceful running second
row, Bannister is also mobile enough for the centres.
CHRIS HOUGH
Some players seem like natural ‘journey men’ and Hough is one of those, having done stints
with Swinton, Batley, Doncaster, Rochdale, Oldham and Leigh, in a varied playing career.
Now an assistant coach at Rochdale, he is one of the first people that John Stankevitch turns
to, as he is still a handy player, with a good pass and short kicking game. Currently with
Steven Roper and Paul Crook out injured for Hornets, he has stepped up to playing regularly
again. In addition to his league commitments, Chris is also coach of Littleborough Rugby
Union club. He played seven games on loan at Leigh in 2007, making his debut after having
his move ratified at 4pm on the afternoon of a game, against Sheffield Eagles. Sadly he could
not prevent the Centurions losing 12-39 at the Don Valley but he did register one try in his
stint. Hough has been a big part of Rochdale's plans after returning to the club from Oldham.
A halfback by trade, Hough can also play at hooker.
Chris Hough
STEVE MCDERMOTT
Steve is rising stock in Championship One this season. The hooker came to Rochdale as an
amateur recruitment from Simms Cross, and has proved to be a consistent performer. The
Widnes based player is 26 and still has the best years of his career in front of him. Previously
Steve was capped as a BARLA Great Britain international, and also represented Lancashire.
He went on tour to Australia last season and upon his return signed for the Hornets. In just
14 games for the club, he went over for nine tries and inspired a couple more as the Hornets
got within eighty minutes of a Grand Final appearance. Before taking the professional ticket,
McDermott was also honoured as North West Counties Player of the Year and helped Simms
Cross to back-to-back Lancashire cup successes in 2009 and 2010. Already this season the
hooker has scored a further four tries to sit at the top of the Rochdale scoring charts with
Gary Middlehurst.
Steve McDermott
ROCHDALE
SCORERS 2012
ROCHDALE
RESULTS 2012
Tries: (28)
Northern Rail Cup
19/2/12 Halifax 36 Rochdale 6
26/2/12 Rochdale 16 Keighley 40
4/3/12 Dewsbury 32 Rochdale 10
Championship One
11/3/12 Rochdale 36 London Skolars 4
18/3/12 Whitehaven 30 Rochdale 10
1/4/12 North Wales Crusaders 18 Rochdale 54
6/4/12 Rochdale 18 Oldham 10
Challenge Cup
25/3/12 Rochdale 48 East Hull 20
4
3
2
1
Gary Middlehurst; Steve McDermott.
Johnny Leather.
Wayne English; Paul O'Connor; Adam Bowman; Danny Pyke.
Daniel Davies; Chris Baines; Mark Hobson; Phil Braddish;
Steven Roper; Chris Hough; John Cookson;
Dale Bloomfield; Stephen Bannister.
Goals: (19)
10 Chris Baines;
7 Paul Crook;
2 Chris Hough.
www.leighcenturions.com
Stephen Bannister
www.LeighLife.com
Lost
Lost
Lost
Won
Lost
Won
Won
Won
Page 17
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
SUPERLEIGH LOTTERY
The latest news from the Leigh Centurions Lottery Team
TRYACTION
1
V Swinton
Craig Briscoe's first try of the season pleased team mate Gregg McNally.
2
A classic winger's try for Steve Maden as he eludes
ex-team mate Tom Armstrong.
3
A deft bit of handling from Tommy Gallagher as he sets
up Ryan Brierley's try.
AGENTS WANTED
We are looking for lottery agents in Leigh, Atherton, Lowton areas
We have ready made rounds available. Good Commission Paid.
Agents who bring in over £30.00 per week receive a free season ticket.
Contact Christine or Johnny on 01942 487887 or [email protected]
4
Leigh DIY and Fireworks will once again be sponsoring the ball boys for the coming
season.
A delighted Ryan
Brierley slides in for
his fifth try of the
campaign.
Trevor Barton MBE, the Centurion’s CEO said: “This is an example of the terrific support we get
from our local companies and we are very grateful”.
“This will be the eighth year that Graham and Elaine have sponsored the ball boys.
5
We are very appreciative of Graham and Elaine’s continuing commitment to the club and on top
of that, they also sponsor Martyn Ridyard”.
Page 18
www.leighcenturions.com
www.LeighLife.com
New boy James Laithwaite
fires out a perfect pass to
send in Matt Gardner for a try.
Page 19
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
LEIGH CENTURIONS Squad 2012
ROCHDALE
Squad
Head Coach: Paul Rowley
Shirt No
Shirt Sponsor
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
In 2 Signs
McCauls Build
Ale House Leisure Ltd.
Padken Steel Erectors
Hattons Solicitors
Leigh DIY & Fireworks
Hawco
AB Sundecks
Marstrut
Professional Waste
Taylor Drilling Services
Styles & Co.
Widdows Mason
ASK Platt Office Supplies
Civil Solutions
Anthony's Travel
Tesco
L.I.S.A.
Number
v Rochdale
Leigh Squad 2012
Alphabetical
Player Sponsor
Bob Beswick
Ricky Bibey
Ryan Brierley
Craig Briscoe
Adam Clay
John Duffy
Tommy Gallagher
Matt Gardner
Tommy Goulden
Sam Hopkins
James Laithwaite
Stuart Littler
Steve Maden
Dean McGilvray
Gregg McNally
Ricky Murphy
Anthony Nicholson
Michael Ostick
Rob Parker
Jonathan Pownall
Martyn Ridyard
Chris Rowe
Matty Russell
Ryan Shaw
Sam Singleton
James Taylor
ASK Platt Office Supplies
Interforce Assistance
L.I.S.A.
Superleigh Lottery
Professor & Mrs Barry Dale
Interforce Assistance
Corlett Electrical
Leythers Message Board
Professor & Mrs Barry Dale
L.I.S.A.
Available
Hattons Solicitors
Dr. Doublet-Stewart
RH - Techserv
A C Windscreens
JST Nutrition
Professional Witnesses
Professional Waste
L.I.S.A.
JST Nutrition
Integrated Control Solutions
Superleigh Lottery
Available
Available
Eilis
L.I.S.A.
TODAY’S OFFICIALS
NEXT UP AT LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE
Page 20
Sunday 13th May 2012 - Kick Off 3.00pm
Co-Operatve Championship
Sunday 20th May 2012 - Kick Off 3.00pm
Co-Operatve Championship
CENTURIONS v
KEIGHLEY COUGARS
CENTURIONS v
HUNSLET HAWKS
Season Tickets apply
Season Tickets apply
www.leighcenturions.com
Referee:
Mr. C. Leatherbarrow
Touch Judges:
Mr. G. Jones
Mr. J. Page
www.LeighLife.com
Head Coach:
John Stankevitch
Number
v Leigh
Player
Chris Baines
Stephen Bannister
Daniel Bedford
Adam Bowman
Paul Brearley
Ryan Brown
Will Chadwick
John Cookson
Paul Crook
Dayne Donoghue
Wayne English
Dean Gorton
Kemar Gyles
Mark Hobson
Fraser Jones-Lake
Jacob Kinney
Jack Knowles
Jonny Leather
Gary Loughead
Stephen Lucas
Ben Marsden
Dean Mattinson
Gary Middlehurst
Charles Moore
Dave Newton
Paul O'Connor
Danny Price
Matt Reid
Steven Roper
Anthony Stewart
Andy Taylor
Jamie Trantum
Damien Turner
Andy Unsworth
Alex West
Phil Wood
Tom Wood-Hulme
Page 21
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
L.I.S.A.
by Tony Williams
In the announcement that Richard Lewis will be leaving the RFL
for the All-England Tennis Club at the end of the month –
effectively swapping pie and chips for strawberries and cream –
RFL chief executive Nigel Wood (Editor: who is unlikely to swap
pie and chips for anything!) claimed that Lewis’ ten years in
charge constituted “a golden decade for the sport”. Whatever
your opinion of Lewis’ success or otherwise in charge of the RFL,
Wood’s comments failed to
ring true, given that one of
the biggest clubs in the game
– Bradford Bulls – is on the
verge of financial collapse.
Bradford’s financial woes – even
though the club has now
reached its initial pledge target
of £500,000 – cast a long
shadow over an entertaining
weekend of rugby league, and
will likewise cast a long shadow
Same racket - new balls - for RFL
over the departure of Lewis from
chairman Richard Lewis as he
Red Hall.
heads back to Wimbledon.
Hidden beneath the surface of
rugby league this past fortnight
has been a profound sense of despair, with club chairmen such as St
Helens’ Eamonn McManus and Hull KR’s Neil Hudgell publicly stating
their dissatisfaction with the financial state of the game. Hudgell has
claimed that the game as a whole is “bankrupt”, while McManus has
suggested that large crowds and TV audiences have only served to
cover up the immensity of rugby league’s financial plight.
It’s hard to evaluate the causes of this depressing situation, much less
come up with any solutions (especially for someone like myself who
knows virtually nothing
of finances or business).
As John Bernstein
recently pointed out in
his
LoveRugbyLeague.com
blog the whole economy
is in trauma, and
therefore much of the
situation is out of our
hands. But that hasn’t
stopped solutions from
being proposed and
Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell - the RFL
blame from being
is turning a blind eye - and he's got the
apportioned.
Law doctorate to prove it.
Both McManus and
Hudgell have pointed to
Page 22
Saints chairman Eamon McManus - a systemic weaknes in the governance
of rugby league.
the RFL’s “expansion model”, both in terms of geographical expansion
and expanding the number of teams in Super League. During their
utterly disastrous Super League tenure the Celtic Crusaders went into
administration twice before a third financial collapse finally saw them
off. There are question marks always over the sustainability of London
Broncos as a Super League franchise.
Yet both men believe that a 14-team Super League is simply
unsustainable, regardless of whether all the teams are from the
heartlands or otherwise. Wakefield are another club to have gone into
administration – some have argued they should not have received a
Super League license last season – while Bradford have shown that
not even the biggest of heartlands clubs are immune.
The RFL have received a great deal of criticism, McManus pointing to
“a systemic commercial weakness in the way rugby league is structured
and governed” and Hudgell accusing the governing body of “turning a
blind eye to the financial instability of many of its elite clubs”. These
criticisms ring true when one considers how the finances of clubs like
Crusaders, Wakefield, Bradford – and perhaps others – were
overlooked in the licensing process, and that the RFL has recently given
away the title rights to Super League for what is in real terms and
practical terms absolutely nothing.
It’s a grim picture, and things don’t look like getting better any time
soon. Yet we shouldn’t despair. Rugby league will not implode, nor
cease to exist – it will survive into the future, because history teaches
us that much. In 1963 Bradford Northern went out of business, yet with
the help of its loyal supporters, former players, and those involved in
rugby league everywhere, Bradford Northern was re-formed the
following year. Half a century later we can draw hope from this
resilience.
[email protected]
www.twitter.com/Tony_LoveRL
www.leighcenturions.com
LEIGH INDEPENDENT SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION
By LYNDA PIKE
LISA and Leigh Centurions
Board Representation
LISA is proud to have contributed £20,000 to Leigh Centurions,
so far this season. I would like to say a massive thank you to all
our members who have contributed to this incredible sum and
to anyone who has supported us. Believe me, your generosity
and support are much appreciated by LISA and the Club. All at
the Club are working very hard to turn things around from last
season’s crisis, and we at LISA will continue to help as best we
can.
So if there are any fans out there who are not members yet, please
consider joining us. In addition to doing your bit to ensure the survival
and prosperity of the Club, you will receive discount on away coach
travel, and there are companies who offer discounts to LISA members.
Details on our website.
Just visit the LISA website - www.leigh-isa.org.uk - and download
the forms to join. Anyone who can afford to pay more than £5 per
month, can do so by filling in a new direct debit form and amending
the amount they wish to pay, then send it, with a covering letter, to
120 St Helens Road, Leigh. WN73JE, for the attention of LISA Treasurer
Peter Bentham.
Anyone attending last months meeting will be aware that the Club
has awarded LISA a seat on the Board of Directors, as a token of thanks
for all the money we have given the Club over the years since LISA was
formed.
Next Meeting
The next LISA meeting is on Wednesday 16th May, at the Lancastrian
squash Club. New Business Development manager, Richie Blackmore
will be attending, so let’s all get down to meet him. Everyone is
welcome to attend, member or not.
Coach Travel to Halifax
The LISA coach to Halifax, on Thursday, will be departing from the
LSV at 5:45p.m. Further pick ups will be at 5:50 p.m. from St Mary’s
Way and 5:55 p.m. from Atherton. Prices will be £7.50 for LISA members
and £9.00 for non members. Please do not be late, as the coach can’t
wait!
Thanks for all your support as always.
Lynda
Tweets of the week
WITH DAVE PARKINSON
If you want to feature on this page, all you
have to do throughout the season is voice your
opinion about anything to do with Leigh and
just add #LeighRL to your message.
Here is a selection of the tweets from Good
Friday’s game with Swinton.
“Realising all the games I've attended we've won
@LeighCenturions #luckycharm” - Zoe Sayers
(Perhaps you should get a season ticket Zoe!)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As always, the players had something to say
about the game and – in Riddy’s case – about
one of his hobbies!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Enjoyable game int 'Classico at the LSV, some
cracking rugby, bit of biff and a good result for
Leyth #rugbyleague #leighrl” - Matt Lawton
“Great result today, always good to win a derby!
Even better to win in front of baby Bella for her
first and not last Leigh game #LeighRL – Leigh full
back Gregg McNally
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Well done Leigh Centurions - best
performance of the season with the biggest
crowd of the season too #LeythersMarching
#leighrl” - Danny Partington
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Leigh 38 - Swinton 4 that should keep our nosey
neighbours quiet #leighrl” - Sean Fairhurst
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Good win good gate top performance by the
lads” - Dean Harvey
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
www.LeighLife.com
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Good win from the boys today pretty much
our best consistent performance up to now.
Can't wait for next week again - already
enjoying it.” - Martyn Ridyard
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Riddy not out neet coz he has feed gowd fish.” Martyn Ridyard (again - some rugby players have
strange pastimes! And, for non-Lanky speykers,
Riddy is taking his pet–care responsibilities
seriously!)
Page 23
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
Fetch ‘BOB’
A message from Centurions’ Director John Roddy
Good afternoon and, on behalf of Leigh
Centurions, welcome to our new supporters
who join us again, or for the first time.
We estimate from the communications we
receive, that approximately 100 new supporters
have joined us since we launched the ‘Fetchbob’
campaign, and many new supporters are joining
us simply because of our fantastic club, existing
supporters, and other commercial activities,
which are attracting a wider audience. You will
find that we are very receptive to new ideas on
how to build the club, so please join in and
communicate them to me
[email protected]
May I also say on behalf of Leigh Centurions, a
massive thank you to all our sponsors and for the
continued and invaluable support of the Leigh
Sports Village team.
Three months into the job and the season moves
very quickly. We have formed our Match
Attendance and Sponsorship Team (MAST) and
we work very hard to plan well in advance, our
home fixtures to ensure that we maximise the
time to communicate ticket news, offers and
corporate dining – our pre-match production
team is now in full swing and hopefully you are
now starting to feel the improved atmosphere
and communication before and during the game.
I hope the music is getting you into tune for
when the match starts - Paul Rowley tells me
that we are really lifting the team and they love
to see the supporters arriving early to get behind
them during the warm up.
Twitter Update – we now have over 1620
followers from Leigh, the UK and internationally,
all keeping track on our activities, new stories and
offers. We lead the way in the Championship, in
respect of twitter followers and we fully intend
to drive this hard during the weeks ahead, to
reach our first goal of 2000 – it is absolutely vital
that we attract further sponsorship to the club
and I want to communicate to organisations that
not only do we have the best supporters in the
Championship, but also the Leigh Centurion
brand is strong and followed by so many. This will
become so important as we move into the 2013
season.
Check us out @LeighCenturions and
@fetchbob
It was great to finally meet Richie Blackmore last
week, and to sit down
and discuss the
commercial direction
of the club and to
welcome him to our
team. Already Richie
and I are exploring
opportunities
together and making
appointments to meet New Business
Development Manager
with new partners and Richie
Blackmore
sponsors.
Let’s hope for a great result today for the
team, the club and our brand – The bigger the
Crowd, the louder the roar!
THE LAST MATCH
LEIGH CENTURIONS 38 SWINTON LIONS 4
By Dave Parkinson
Leigh Centurions made it three successive wins, with a comfortable
derby success over Swinton Lions, that yielded another seven tries.
The Centurions went on the attack after nine minutes, but it was their
defence that set things in motion, when Jonny Pownall crunched former
Leigh player Adam Higson. Tom Armstrong then conceded a penalty and
Michael Ostick sent James Taylor over for the first of two tries.
Swinton responded, on
the back of a penalty
when Martin Ainscough
managed to get Dale
Cunniffe over the line,
and referee Ronnie
Laughton adjudged a
clean grounding despite
vocal complaints within
the stadium.
Leigh extended their
advantage
after
27minutes, when Bob
Beswick and Martyn
Ridyard combined and
Craig Briscoe charged
over unopposed, from
Tommy Goulden made a welcome return in
15 metres. Ridyard
the Swinton game.
added his second goal
to establish a 12-4
advantage, but Swinton felt they should have had a try in the corner after
35 minutes when the ball whizzed right and a Pownall attempted intercept
was taken over the line by Ian Mort. The move was pulled back for a
forward pass and when Swinton came up with an error just out from the
break, Leigh scored their third try from the scrum. Gregg McNally arched
right, pulling the defence out before a one handed pass gave Steve Maden
the chance to thunder 25 metres, beating Cunniffe’s attempted tackle, for
a strong finish, with Ridyard kicking Leigh out to an 18-4 half-time
advantage.
The second half started well for Swinton, but they saw Cunniffe pulled
back in the act of scoring after a forward pass in the build-up, and Leigh
extended their advantage after 53 minutes when Anthony Nicholson sent
Taylor over the line for his second try. Having done the hard work, through
the likes of Rob Parker, James Laithwaite and Tommy Goulden, the
Centurions began to enjoy themselves and scored three tries in the last
eighteen minutes. Matt Gardner scored the first, continuing his try-getting
form, after a flowing move involving Beswick, Ridyard and Laithwaite.
Maden and Tommy Gallagher then linked for Ryan Brierley to dash through
the middle with seven minutes remaining and Ridyard kicked his fifth goal.
Leigh's final try came after forcing a drop-out when Brierley raided down
the right at pace, and Maden ran in at the corner to round off an
impressive showing.
LEIGH
Gregg McNally; Steve Maden; Stuart Littler; Matt Gardner; Jonny Pownall;
Martyn Ridyard; Bob Beswick; Michael Ostick; Anthony Nicholson; Rob
Parker; James Laithwaite; Tommy Goulden; James Taylor.
SUBS: (All Used). Ryan Brierley; Sam Hopkins; Craig Briscoe;
Tommy Gallagher.
Tries: Taylor (9, 53), Briscoe (27), Maden (39, 79), Gardner (64),
Brierley (73).
Goals: Ridyard 5/7.
SWINTON
Richie Hawkyard; Ian Mort; Adam Higson; Tom Armstrong; Gavin Dodd;
Martin Ainscough; Ian Watson; Mike Morrison; Karl Ashall; Carl Forster;
Dale Cunniffe; Darren Hawkyard; Chaz I'Anson.
SUBS: (All Used). Neil Holland; Scott Hale; Andy Gorski; Mark Smith.
Try: Cunniffe (19). Goal: Mort 0/1.
Attendance: 2135.
Half-time: 18-4.
Referee: Ronnie Laughton.
Penalties: 6-6.
Steve Maden beats Dale Cunniffe to register Leigh's third try.
JUNIOR CENTURIONS UPDATE
From John Williams
Junior Centurions Birthdays
Friday 13 April
Saturday 14th April
Tuesday 17th April
Sunday 22nd April
Tuesday April 24th
Page 24
Ryan Calland aged 9, attends Chowbent School Atherton
Maiya Stringer aged 9, attends Daisy Hill St James C E
Shannon Jackson aged, 8 attends Bedford St Thomas's School
Josh Hatherall aged 8, attends Bedford Hall Methodist
Matthew Bailey aged 5, attends St Michaels Howe Bridge
www.leighcenturions.com
www.LeighLife.com
Page 25
THE
THE
CENTURION
CENTURION
THE OPPOSING COACH
JOHN STANKEVITCH
By GARETH WALKER
of Rugby Leaguer & League Express
Profiled by Alan Edge
Unfortunately, our correspondent Nathan Lawrenson
was unable to obtain an interview with Hornets’ coach
John Stankevitch. Here instead, is a potted history of
Stankevitch’s amazing career to date.
THE OPPOSING COACH
By Alan Edge
It’s a great pity that
John
Stankevitch
couldn’t fit in an
interview
with
Nathan, because I
suspect his views
would have been
fascinating, to put it
mildly – judging from
his background and
career so far, and how
he has turned around
adversity, to his
benefit, and that of
John Stankevitch
others.
John was born in November 1979, at Whiston and signed for nearby club
St. Helens, where he played with great distinction, at the highest level,
for four seasons, figuring in over 130 Super League games, mainly as a
second row forward. During his time at Saints, John played in winning
Grand Final, and World Club Challenge teams, and was selected for
England and Great Britain. In 2003, he sustained a serious shoulder and
neck injury against Wigan – and, despite enduring ten months of
extensive rehab. and treatment, he was advised to end his career.
However, he defied medical opinion (“I just thought bollocks to that, I
need to carry on, because I’ve got a family to support!”) and, in 2005, he
CHAMPIONSHIP
TALK
moved to neighbouring club Widnes Vikings, where he figured in 22
Super League games, before succumbing to the injury, which forced him
to quit the game that had been his entire life, at the cruelly early age
of 25.
It was at this time that John’s life took a decided turn for the worse.
With nothing to fall back on, he tried unsuccessfully to get a job – any
job – in order to support his family. John lurched through depression,
debt, gambling addiction, disastrous property deals and a severe hit
to his self-confidence, before taking bold steps to get his life back in
order. A brutal and honest appraisal of his life, led him to put his
thoughts on paper and the auto-biography ‘Being John Stankevitch’
was the result.
It is testimony to John’s
determination to get his
life back in order, that he
has now had coaching
spells at Widnes, (twice
as assistant coach,
including a spell as
caretaker coach, on Steve
McCormack’s departure)
and Doncaster, where he
was Head Coach. Prior to
accepting the post as
Head Coach at Rochdale
in September 2011, John
enjoyed a spell as backs
coach at Rotherham
Titans RU. Last year, he
was also appointed
Performance Coaching
Consultant to the Russian
national team for their Stankevitch during his coaching days
World Cup qualifying at Widnes.
games.
Stankevitch is now regarded as one of the brightest, up and coming
coaches in British RL and recently added the title of ‘Sporting Director’
to his portfolio at Rochdale – giving him a greater influence on the
development of the club and its players.
John supplements his job at Rochdale by running his own business as
an ‘inspirational and motivational’ speaker, calling on his experiences
in life, to advise corporate, and educational establishments, sports
governing bodies and HM Prison service!
Yes, it’s a shame we couldn’t get that interview - I reckon it
would have been a cracker!
Can upsets still happen?
IT’S Challenge Cup weekend, a chance for
Championship clubs to take on some of
the giants of the sport – but are major
shocks now a thing of the past?
They are certainly much rarer since the
inception of Super League, a result of the
significant divide with top flight clubs moving
to full-time status. But they are not yet totally
extinct, and six Championship clubs face
Super League opponents this weekend.
Undoubtedly the most intriguing of those ties
will come at the BigFellas Stadium, where
Featherstone Rovers got the tie that everyone
at the club wanted, when they drew
Castleford Tigers at home. Clashes between
the two great rivals have been few and far
between, and a bumper crowd is expected for
a game that will be televised live.
Featherstone bring back the Challenge cup
in 1967.
“It was the draw that supporters, players and
the whole club wanted,” Featherstone skipper
Stuart Dickens told League Express on
Tigers were victorious at Wembley in 1969.
Monday. This is one game where observers
felt a shock could be on the cards when the
draw was made, given Rovers’ outstanding
consistency in recent years, and Castleford’s
stuttering start to the season.
But back-to-back wins for the Tigers against
Hull KR and Wakefield will have restored
some confidence in Ian Millward’s squad, and
they will start as definite favourites. (Editor:
More so, given Featherstone’s incredible
defensive nightmare against Sheffield)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It’s difficult to see shocks taking place in
any of the other five Championship
matches with Super League sides, but each
clash will have plenty of interest.
Keighley Cougars’ continuing resurgence will
be fully tested when they welcome
Warrington Wolves to town on Sunday. “It
should be a great occasion for the club with
world class, international players down at
Cougar Park for the first time in over a
decade,” Keighley player coach Jason
Demetriou said.
North Wales Crusaders’ reward for an
outstanding third round win over Toulouse is
a trip to the mighty Wigan Warriors – a
terrific day out for the fledgling club.
Bradford Bulls have been dealing with bigger
issues off the field in recent weeks, but that is
unlikely to be enough to distract them in a
home tie with Doncaster, for whom Paul
Cooke should relish a return to the big stage.
Officials at Dewsbury Rams will admit that
London Broncos away is not a great tie for
them in any sense, but the players should rise
to the challenge of playing against star players
such as Craig Gower, at the Stoop.
However, Whitehaven were delighted to pull
Salford City Reds out of the hat at the
Recreation Ground, particularly Australian
coach Don Gailer. “I think it’s sensational for
all the support around the area to be able to
come and watch
a Super League
team at their
own ground,”
Gailer said.
That kind of
passion will go a
long way this
weekend – but
will it be enough
Whitehaven coach Don
to lead to a
Gailer welcomes the visit
famous shock
of Super League outfit
Salford, to Cumbria.
somewhere?
A younger John Stankevitch in his playing days at Saints.
Page 26
www.leighcenturions.com
www.LeighLife.com
Page 27
THE
CENTURION
CONFERENCE CALL
with Jeff Gorse
Leigh Miners Rangers
by Jeff Gorse
The visit of the Carnegie Challenge
Cup competition to Leigh this
afternoon highlights the everincreasing importance of sponsors
and sponsorship in sport - and
particularly in amateur rugby league.
For the last five or six years the RFL's
premier club competition, the
Challenge Cup, has been sponsored
by Leeds Metropolitan University under their sport and
health banner of Carnegie.
However before then,
rugby league was one of
the last sports to divest
itself of associations
with tobacco advertising
through the Regal
Trophy and the Silk Cut
Challenge Cup. Hard to
believe that this was less
than fifteen years ago,
when as a keen and
hard-pressed student at
Lancaster, and an even
keener fledgling smoker, Current sponsors of the Challenge Cup are Carnegie.
I looked forward with
relish to the Miners' Challenge Cup games, in the knowledge that
I could snaffle a few of the giveaway boxes of merchandise the
sponsor would kindly dish out.
Happily, healthier times have prevailed all round, initially via the
short-lived sponsorship of Kellogg's Nutri-Grain. I remember boxes
of these also being given out at cup ties but, my student days now
behind me; I looked less enthusiastically on these alternatives to
Pot Noodle. Now we have Carnegie, and rugby league undoubtedly
benefits from the munificence and the positive image the brand
brings.
Wigan won the Kellog's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup in 2002.
Page 28
Programme from 1988 SIlk Cut Challenge Cup Final between Wigan and Halifax.
In the community game, sponsorship is all important, and at
Miners Rangers we have some of the best and most loyal in the
business. Welch Mill Carpets have been main club sponsors for
over twenty years, with generations of Twist Lane match balls
being lost on their car park! This relationship has a longevity which
I imagine is hard to surpass in sport in general, never mind amateur
rugby. We also have Leigh Cables, who have been tremendous
friends and supporters of the club, and a whole host of local
businesses and people, who give generously to support the
aspirations of the club and our teams, from juniors all the way
through to open age. Without such generosity, we simply could
not provide the service and the opportunities for players that we
currently do, and despite these straitened financial times it is to
the immense credit of our sponsors that they continue to provide
their support.
Most recently, we welcomed former Leigh coach Paul Terzis and
the ever-exuberant Lloyd Pugsley and their families as match
sponsors for our home game against Siddal, and again we must
place on record our thanks for their generosity. Without wishing
to turn this into a shameless plug - ok actually that was my
intention all along - our
new match sponsorship
packages start from just
£100.00 for ten people
and we would be
delighted to see any
supporters old and new
who
would
be
interested in enjoying
an afternoon at the
Miners and of course at
the
same
time
providing
their
invaluable support to
your local community
Warrington's Dessie Drummond with the Regal
Trophy in 1991.
club.
www.leighcenturions.com
6LGHVWHS WUDIÀF DQG
KLJK IXHO FRVWV ZLWK
1RUWKHUQ 5DLO
•
•
•
•
•
•
Page 30
www.leighcenturions.com
www.LeighLife.com
Accident
Home Move
HIPS
Business Move
Landlords
Family
54 Church Street
Leigh
Lancs WN7 1AZ
Telephone 01942 671166
Fax 0845 862 9170
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tqsolicitors.com
Page 31
LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
CHAMPION
FOR CHARITY
SAATURDAAY 12TH MAY
SATURDAY
MAAY
HEADINGLE
EY CARNE
GIE STADIUM
STADIUM
ADDIUM
HEADINGLEY
CARNEGIE
Zip-wire
Zip-wir
e across
across Headingl
Headingley
ey Carnegie Stadium
Stadium
a
at o
over
ver 30mph!
Take the plunge and
Take
nd raise
raise mone
moneyy to
to help disadvantaged
disadvan
ntaged yyoung
oung people.
people. The zip-wire
zip-w
wire will
where
will
activites
ffeature
eature at our ccommunity
ommunity carnival
carnival wher
e there
there w
ill be llots
ots of activit
es throughout
throughout
ut the day
ffor
or the whole
whole family.
familly.
- Zip-wir
Zip-wire
e across
across the Headingley
Headingley Carneige Stadium
Stadium
- Help br
eak tw
o Guinness
Guin
nness World
World Records
Records
break
two
Assail
- As
sail the climbing wall
- Play ttarget
arget archery
archery
Enjoyy the community
- Enjo
community
ty ccarnival
arnival
tickets,
memorabilia
- Win tick
ets, rugby memor
abilia and much more
more
For
F
or further inf
information
ormation
ation pl
please
ease see www
www.leedsmet.ac.uk/giving
.leedsmet.ac.uk/giving
et.ac.uk/giving
www.LeighLife.com
Page 33
THE
CENTURIONS 2012
CENTURION
Rob Parker
L.I.S.A.
Ryan Shaw
Available
Page 34
LEIGHCENTURIONS
Bob Beswick
ASK Platt Office Supplies
Ricky Bibey
Interforce Assistance
Ryan Brierley
L.I.S.A.
Craig Briscoe
Superleigh Lottery
TOUCHDOWN CLUB
BRONZE, SILVER AND CORPORATE GOLD PACKAGES
Adam Clay
Professor & Mrs Barry Dale
John Duffy
Interforce Assistance
Tommy Gallagher
Corlett Electrical
Matt Gardner
Leythers Message Board
Leigh Centurions Touchdown Club was formed with
the aim of putting monthly revenue into the club all
the year round. All fans are able to join either a
Bronze or Silver package. This is a way of enhancing
your season ticket to put more revenue into your
club.
The Corporate Gold package is also a way that your
business can get together with other local business
people on match days, enjoying not only hospitality with
other members but spending time promoting your own
business, whilst watching the game.
Any business that is interested in joining the Corporate
Club can contact us at [email protected] or by
calling 07774 756223
Touchdown
Corporate Gold Members
Tommy Goulden
Professor & Mrs Barry Dale
Dean McGilvray
RH - Techserv
Jonathan Pownall
JST Nutrition
Sam Singleton
Eilis
Sam Hopkins
L.I.S.A.
Gregg McNally
A C Windscreens
Martyn Ridyard
Integrated Control Solutions
James Laithwaite
Available
Stuart Littler
Hattons Solicitors
Ricky Murphy
JST Nutrition
Chris Rowe
Superleigh Lottery
James Taylor
L.I.S.A.
Steve Maden
Dr. Doublet-Stewart
Anthony Nicholson
Professional Witnesses
Matty Russell
Available
Michael Ostick
Professional Waste
www.leighcenturions.com
Company
Contact
Tel
JAMES’QS’ LIMITED
IAN JAMES
07831 412966
ACORN BUILDERS LTD
TONY ROBERTS
07774 990934
ASTLEY HIRE LTD
STEVE DORRICOTT
07940 896807
BURLINGTON BUILDERS LTD
PAUL SUMNER
07774 920854
GRADA (UK) LTD
PHIL OWEN
07967 049966
HIRE ‘N’ HIRE
KEITH STACEY
01942 676406
TOPPING PARTNERSHIP
PETER BENTHAM
07771 581115
EUROSCREEN LIMITED
CHRIS GARFIN
01942 673333
A.C. WINDSCREENS LIMITED
ALAN CARTWRIGHT
07772 434242
McCAUL DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
MARTIN McCAUL
07710 373288
REDWATERS LIMITED
SEAN McCAUL
07807 036272
LYTHAM PROPERTIES LIMITED
SEAN McCAUL
07807 036272
ASK PLATT OFFICE SUPPLIES LIMITED
ALAN PLATT
07774 756223
PROFESSOR AND MRS BARRY DALE
BARRY DALE
01204 882977
BEDFORD PACKAGING LIMITED
BOB DICK
07973 308422
A.B.SUNDECKS LIMITED
DEREK BEAUMONT
0161 728 6500
IMPACT INSURANCE LIMITED
MOIRA GRIFFITHS
01204 848481
R.H. TECHSERV
ELLIOTT RODDY
07914 539730
CS (CIVIL & GROUNDWORKS) LTD
STEVE OPENSHAW
07805 056625
www.LeighLife.com
Page 35
THE
CENTURION
FACTS ‘n’ STATS
BY DAVE PARKINSON
Hello and welcome to another ‘Facts ‘n Stats’. Last week against
Swinton the team passed 50 tries for the season – an average of
over five per game - and when Steve Maden touched down for
his second try, that was Leighs 55th of the year so far.
Sticking with Maden, and well done to Steve on achieving a place in
the top 30 try scorers at the club. Two further tries will see him
overtake Danny Halliwell and move up to 29th spot while another 5
tries will see him surpass Barrie Ledger and draw level with Terry
Bilsbury and James France.
Last weekend saw Martyn Ridyard reach his 80th game for the club
and he is 21 points away from 300 for the club.
Tommy Goulden needs one more try to join the 100 points club at
Leigh; he has currently scored 24 tries for the Centurions.
Matt Gardner has scored 5 tries in 9 appearances. Last season at
Widnes he scored 3 tries in 25 games.
Gardner is one of four ever-presents. The others are Craig Briscoe,
Steve Maden & Martyn Ridyard.
2012
NAME
Bob Beswick
Ricky Bibey
Ryan Brierley
Craig Briscoe
Adam Clay
John Duffy
Tommy Gallagher
Matt Gardner
Tommy Goulden
Sam Hopkins
James Laithwaite
Stuart Littler
Dean McGilvray
Gregg McNally
Steve Maden
Ricky Murphy
Anthony Nicholson
Michael Ostick
Rob Parker
Jonny Pownall
Martyn Ridyard
Chris Rowe
Matty Russell
Ryan Shaw
Sam Singleton
Tom Spencer
James Taylor
Michael Worrincy
DOB
12/8/84
22/09/81
13/02/92
12/8/92
10/7/90
7/2/80
9/10/83
24/08/84
30/06/81
17/02/90
23/09/91
19/02/79
24/04/88
1/2/91
13/09/82
15/12/93
28/11/90
23/01/88
9/5/81
22/08/91
25/07/86
2/8/94
6/6/93
27/02/92
1/2/91
9/11/84
16/02/86
Total
Page 36
www.leighcenturions.com
Career
Apps
6
6
1
5
2
7
0
9
5
5
2
8
3
7
8
0
5
1
7
3
8
0
2
3
0
3
6
5
Sub
2
0
6
4
0
0
7
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
4
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Tries
0
0
4
1
2
1
1
5
1
3
0
6
1
4
3
0
1
0
2
4
1
0
3
3
0
2
4
3
Goals
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
32
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
DG
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pts
1
0
22
4
8
4
4
20
4
12
0
24
4
16
12
0
4
0
8
16
68
0
12
14
0
8
16
12
Apps
6
55
1
5
2
149
0
9
55
8
2
38
31
7
157
0
8
1
7
4
71
0
2
3
0
3
141
5
Sub
2
12
6
9
0
41
7
0
7
13
0
1
1
0
3
0
13
4
1
2
9
0
0
0
0
0
25
2
Tries
0
6
4
2
2
48
1
5
24
7
0
14
10
4
58
0
4
0
2
5
40
0
3
3
0
2
21
3
Goals
0
0
3
0
0
19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
59
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
DG
1
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pts
1
24
22
8
8
234
4
20
96
28
0
56
40
16
232
0
16
0
8
20
279
0
12
14
0
8
84
12
117
36
55
36
1
293
770
158
268
82
6
1242
Try Makers
Individual
Pass
Kick
Other
Total
Ridyard
McNally
Russell
Duffy
Gallagher
Littler
Bibey
Brierley
Shaw
Parker
Pownall
Laithwaite
Ostick
Hopkins
Maden
Nicholson
Beswick
Worrincy
Total
0
1
3
0
1
3
0
1
2
2
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
17
7
6
2
3
3
0
3
2
0
0
1
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
31
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11
7
5
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
55
www.LeighLife.com
Goal Kickers
Goals
Att
%
Captains
Ridyard
Brierley
Shaw
TOTAL
32
3
1
36
50
5
1
56
64
60
100
64
Duffy
7
Beswick
2
The analysis work
building up to
the author's
Facts 'N Stats.
Page 37
THE
CENTURION
“Doing a sports marketing
work placement as part of my
degree was such a positive
and invaluable experience; it
really boosted my confidence
when applying for a job with
the RFL. I was interviewed and
offered the position before
I even graduated – Leeds
Metropolitan helped me to
get my foot in the door.”
COACH’S
CORNER
by Dave Parkinson
and Mark Taylor
After Leigh's 38-4 success over Swinton, Dave Parkinson and Mark
Taylor caught up with Head Coach Paul Rowley.
MT: Congratulations on the Swinton win; an excellent
performance and you limited a team to just one try once again?
We were absolutely over the moon with the performance against
Swinton. It was a derby match and the call was "Our House", before
we went out. Obviously it is our house and Swinton also ground share
with us. I was familiar with nearly all their players. There aren't many
that have not played at this club and they remain good friends of our
players and me. I suppose it was a bit about bragging rights really, but
we are really proud of the efforts and of the result. I'll stress it again,
we are a tight unit, a small tight unit and I'm proud of my players.
MT: There was a period at the start of the second half where you
had a lot of pressure to absorb, but after that you pulled away?
You do take pressure and that's probably down to what you are doing
with the ball as well. I thought we just did enough in those fifteentwenty minutes at the start of the second half. We were plodding
through a game and inviting them back into it perhaps, and then we
changed that, and had some fun in those last twenty minutes. That's
your reward for the foundation that you've laid. You do get to enjoy
the last fifteen or twenty minutes sometimes.
You saw some good pieces of skill. The boys relaxed into it and the
game was won but there was some obvious pride in defence and that
was the really pleasing aspect of our play.
DP: You welcomed Tommy Goulden back; how did you think he
went?
We didn't pick up any injuries so, what I was able to do was rotate our
bench in a good way and Tommy got just enough time to open up his
lungs and get him blowing, and then we brought him off before he
became any sort of liability, and we didn't want him losing confidence
in any area. That was pretty much the same with the likes of Craig
Briscoe; he's been doing eighty minutes for the last few weeks and in
the Swinton game we were able to use him a bit smarter, because
Tommy came back and we had more options on our edges.
Even though it's a small squad, the players that played just seemed to
fit. If they stay fit for the next thirty weeks or whatever there is, it
would be nice! It's not going to happen, but it's all positive and we are
absolutely buzzing about the result.
DP: And a quick word perhaps about James Taylor, not renowned
as a try scorer, but he came up with two?
He worked hard did Jimmy and again sometimes there’s a lot of work,
almost sacrificial acts, that go on in the game and Jimmy is one of
those people that do that, and it doesn't always get noticed. Another
player, Anthony Nicholson you know, the amount of kick pressure he
put on Ian Watson time and time again. Actions like that are not always
recognised but your peers know it and your coaching staff knows it.
That enabled us to catch the ball on the full or in good field position
Page 38
on our thirty and
forty. Therefore we
weren't defending our
line too much, all just
through an extra bit of
effort from ‘Nicho’.
There is a lot to look
into in a game, there
are a lot of things that
go on that are not
obvious to people
watching, when you
are caught up in the
moment. It is a team Ever-present Craig Briscoe was spelled in the
game and everyone Swinton game.
put their hand up.
There wasn't a person out there that didn't have a dig for us.
MT: You've just got to build a bit of momentum now; you are on
a bit of a run?
We're not going to look at league tables or anything like that, and we
are not going to set any goals about where we want to finish. We are
just going to try and improve our youngsters and set some good
foundations for the club and for the future of the club, and just enjoy
the journey. One bonus of having a small squad is that we are very,
very tight; we can't afford not to be. I think it shows and I think you can
see that. We care about each other - I said before, this is our house and
we are the family that live in it.
Emma Howarth, BA (Hons) Sport Marketing
What is Carnegie?
Leeds Metropolitan University’s vision is to be acknowledged
for our commitment to student success, our innovation and
enterprise, our global reach and strong local impact.
We know that a Leeds Metropolitan
education helps our students achieve their
potential, in addition to the wider social
and economic benefits our university
brings.
Anthony Nicholson put a lot of pressure on Swinton's kicker
www.leighcenturions.com
Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish
entrepreneur, also believed education was
the key to a better society, and almost 80
years ago a gift from him established a PE
teacher training college - Carnegie College
- our predecessor institution. One of the
college’s first students, rugby’s legendary
Eric Harris, scored a famous try when
Leeds won the Challenge Cup at Wembley
back in 1936 whilst our former students
include Stuart Lancaster, Ricky Wilson and
Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield.
Our partnership with the RFL brings
many benefits for all of our students
across a range of disciplines including
PR, events management and sports
marketing who can access real life work
experience, volunteering opportunities,
research projects, major event experience,
knowledge transfer and unique ‘money
can’t buy‘ experiences.
Leeds Metropolitan University proud to sponsor the Challenge
Cup with our Carnegie Faculty