Posted on Sunday, 01 June 2008 05:49PM by

The Rams began this game like a house on fire with a try apiece from centres Chris Langley and Chris Hall within the first 12 minutes, both goaled by Pat Walker. At this stage it was a lead they thoroughly deserved, though it had the effect of stinging Leigh into action. A barrage of penalties kept the Rams penned on their own line for some minutes before centre Dennis Moran cut through to score on the right after 17 minutes. Ian Watson added the goal and the Centurions were back in the game. 8 minutes later they were level after the Rams conceded a bad try in the corner on the South Stand side bounced back and forth like a pea on a drum before it was grabbed by Leigh winger Chris Giles who touched down. Watson’s touchline conversion was a pearler, and the score were level 12-12. The game could have gone either way at this stage, but again it was Leigh who got the break with their third try of the game around the half hour mark, courtesy of centre Dave Alstead, Well, him and a penalty restart taken a good 10 yards closer to the Rams try line than where the touch judge was standing to indicate where the ball had gone out of play. How an official so pedantic about trivialities throughout the game can miss something like that is beyond me. With time running out, late pressure from the Rams earned them a penalty shot, converted by Walker, narrowing the gap to 14-16 as the hooter sounded. The second forty began with the Rams seizing on a Leigh fumble and kicking through for Liam Finn to gather up the ball and score by the posts. Walker’s goal gave them a 4-point lead, and for a while Leigh seemed rattled. Several high shots went in and, with Andy Hobson and Joe Helme flying in to the tackle, things looked interesting Slowly though, on the back of a sterling defensive effort, the Leythers began to impose themselves on the game. The Rams seemed unable to find a way through and began to run out of ideas. The defence though remained more solid than it has been of late, and it was another 10 minutes before Leigh hit the front again with a second try to Dave Alstead, converted by Watson. Even Mr. Laughton seemed unsure about that one, first seeming to disallow the score before changing his mind. Still the Rams battled on. In one attack they fumbled the ball some 5 metres from the Leigh line, only for play to be restarted with a tap to Leigh on the 20m line, one of several interesting slants on the rules we saw today. Leigh’s next threat came with a long run downfield by full back Ian Mort racing the length of the field, only to be pulled down at the last by Bryn Powell. With 10 minutes left, the Rams last chance of victory seemed to vanish with a try to Dale Cunniffe. Maybe it’s something to do with my transfer from the South Stand, but even that one looked a bit dodgy to me, still it was given, and that’s all that counts. Watson added the conversion and suddenly the Rams were struggling to hold on to the bonus point. Determination got them there in the end, though it was heart in the mouth stuff at times. All in all a disappointing result, though a much improved performance. Pat walker at scrum half was a first to me, as was the second row pairing of Taron Wildey and new signing Chris Charles. With talk of Jimmy Elston signing early this week, I’m looking forward to a close game, and our first win of the season up at the Mount on Thursday. Teams: - Dewsbory Rams :- Tom Colleran; Bryn Powell; Chris Langley; Chris Hall; Austin Buchanan; Josh Weeden; Patrick Walker; Aaron Trinder; Liam Finn; David Rourke; Taron Wildey; Chris Charles; Tere Glassie. Subs :- Luke Haigh; Andy Bostock; Martin Robinson; Joe Helme. Leigh Centurions :- Ian Mort; Chris Giles; Dave Alstead; Dennis Moran; Steve Madden; Lee Marsh; Ian Watson; Andy Hobson; Dave McConnell; Chris Hill; Jimmy Taylor; Lee Doran; Mike Wainwright. Subs :- Aaron Smith; Dale Cunniffe; Gareth Price; John Hill. Photos