Leigh Sports Village

Leigh Centurions 30-36 Catalans Dragons

13th June 2021

One of the (very many) unexpected sequelae to the arrival on the planet of Mr. Covid 19, was the premature elevation of Leigh Centurions to the Betfred Super League.  For Toronto Wolfpack's decision, in 2020, to withdraw from the league due to "overwhelming financial challenges" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, left a space to be filled in the top flight.

Five Championship clubs applied to fill the vacancy, from which Leigh Centurions were successful.

The club were last a member of the Super League as recently as 2017, but it could be argued this recent elevation had perhaps came a touch too early for the Centurions.

For, going into this match, Leigh found themselves propping up the Super League table; having lost all of their nine matches thus far.  Wigan Warriors had been run close on the opening day of the season, back in March - but since then it had been double-digit defeats all the way.

Catalans Dragons, by contrast had lost just once so far, and knew a win this afternoon would take them top of the Super League. 

Leigh Centurions play at Leigh Sports Village these days, having
moved from their Hilton Park, for the start of the 2009 season.   

Leigh Sports Village Stadium

And, it has to be said, Leigh made a more than decent fist of things this afternoon.  They scored a try in the opening moments through Ben REYNOLDS, the chap running pretty much the whole length of the field to score.  Further first-half tries from Brendan ELLIOT and Matthew GEE, briefly saw the home side 18-6 ahead, although Catalans had cut the deficit to six by the break.

Much of the second-half belonged to the visitors however, and by the hour mark they had opened up a 36-18 lead.  And that sort of looked like that, until a frantic flurry of scores by the hosts in the closing minutes suddenly had the score at 36-30, and Catalans' players (and their smattering of fans) glancing at the stadium clock.

But, the Centurions, alas, ran out of time. 

Catalans Dragons

Everybody chasing Ben Reynolds

Panorama of Leigh Sports Village Stadium

Brendan Elliot touches down for Leigh's second try, also following an interception.

Ryan Brierly converted all of Leigh's five tries.

The North Stand is the only standing area in the ground.

This ad was a perfect example of "Read the small print".

Leigh Centurions v Catalans Dragons - June 2021

One of Catalans' second-half tries.  Tom Davies with the spectacular dive.

Leigh Centurions v Catalans Dragons - June 2021

Leigh Centurions v Catalans Dragons - June 2021

Old buddies?

Leigh Centurions v Catalans Dragons - June 2021

Across the A579 from Leigh Sports Village may be found Pennington Flash - an odd name for a Country Park, given some of the salacious nonsense which occasionally goes in such places after dark.  Wherein could be found a multitude of swans, ducks and geese.

Pennington Flash

A pair of Canada Geese.

A race, or maybe just some lessons, was taking place on the Flash.

A Flash, I learned, is a body of water that forms where the land below it has subsided.
Either naturally or, more commonly, where mining has occurred.
Every day truly is a school day.