Rugby League Coaching Manuals

The York player-boss, temporarily promoted thanks to James Ratcliffe's suspension from all things rugby league related, prompted the hosts all afternoon and then popped up two minutes from time to land the winning drop goal that handed Ian Millward his first competitive defeat in Centurions' second Northern Rail Cup group game.

In saying that, Leigh made a solid start to the game and took the lead with a second minute penalty after workaholic David Armitstead, growing into the prop role, was dragged in the tackle. Mick Nanyn struck from 20 metres and it was 2-0.

For the next five minutes Leigh had the territory and lion's share of possession.

Robbie Paul forced a drop out with a grubber kick and all looked well for Leigh before a penalty and some tenacious drives from the home pack took them up field.

That set the position and Thorman took advantage, teasing Tommy Goulden out of the defensive line before surging on and Mike Mitchell took the scoring pass in the eighth minute.

Lee Waterman converted and York had the next chance when they worked an overlap only for Danny Wilson to knock on.

As the packs toiled in midfield, it was Leigh that created an opportunity when returning Stuart Donlan broke on the left but his lofted pass went way over the head of Nick Stanton into touch.

York again peppered the Leigh line and the hand of skipper Paul prevented Casey Bromilow from finding his intended target.

The City Knights were finally rewarded after 34 minutes when a good kick from Thorman saw Wilson get above Stanton and Mitchell somehow grounded the ball in-goal despite the attentions of Stanton, Hartley and Nanyn.

Waterman struck a towering touchline goal and it was 12-2 to the hosts.

York continued their effective offload game with substitutes Chris Clough and Brett Waller posing a headache for the Centurions despite some sterling defence from James Taylor and MacGraff Leuluai.

At the start of the second half Leigh kicked towards Wayne Reittie and he knocked on but the visitors could not take advantage.

There was some much better attack from Leigh with only good chasing preventing a score as John Duffy conjured a break for Armitstead. Dave McConnell supported him and Nanyn was halted.

This was not one of Paul's best afternoons and he saw a clearance kick charged down after 50 minutes.

Leigh were fortunate it was Richard Blakeway that got to the ball and not one of the speedy York backline.

Leigh were on the backfoot before Thorman's pass right was picked off by Nanyn.

The centre thundered 50 metres down field and as the defence caught up with him, the ball was passed back to Stanton only for him to knock on.

Danny Ratcliffe countered for York but that chance was also lost.

The game swung from end to end with Donlan's pass into space not quite finding a flying Ridyard, while the replacement stand off then jinked and stepped his way close to the line.

Ratcliffe was proving a real danger for York and he was the subject of two further attacks as he first ran onto Thorman's chip before wildly throwing the ball out of play, then a try saving tackle from Donlan prevented the former Dewsbury man from claiming a spectacular score.

Leigh introduced Adam Higson to the game for the last quarter and he was straight into the action as the Centurions finally began to mount pressure.

That eventually saw Duffy split the defence down the right from halfway before Dave Alstead took his pass to outstrip Ratcliffe and touch down.

Nanyn could not convert but Leigh at last looked more cohesive and another flowing passing movement split the defence.

Goulden then went close but Leigh had to wait until the 75th minute to trouble the scorers again when Duffy sent a crash ball left and McConnell touched down between the posts.

Nanyn's conversion drew the scores level and there was a dramatic end to the game.

Thorman popped up with the drop goal and as the final hooter sounded Leigh tried their hardest to break the defence from deep with Duffy (twice), Ridyard, Donlan, Paul, Danny Meekin and McConnell all handling before the almost predictable error brought a close to the game.

In defeat there were fine efforts from Duffy, Leuluai and Armitstead but a completion rate around 50 per cent for the game does not make good reading and if Centurions are to be competitive in the coming weeks against Featherstone and Dewsbury, that has to improve.

York: Ratcliffe, Reittie, Mitchell, Waterman, Wilson; Thorman, Bromilow; Freer, McLocklan, Benson, Ross, Hill, Blakeway. Subs: Waller, Clough, Barrow, Stamp.
Tries: Mitchell (8, 34). Goals: Waterman 2/2, Thorman Dg.

Leigh: Donlan, Maden, Alstead, Nanyn, Stanton; Hartley, Paul; Morrison, Duffy, Armitstead, Taylor, Goulden, Leuluai. Subs: Ridyard, McConnell, Meekin, Higson.
Tries: Alstead (64), McConnell (75). Goals: Nanyn 2/3.

Half time: 12-2.
Referee: Dave Merrick.
Penalties: 7-10.
Attendance: 911.