What’s the first thing a supporter needs after a night like last Friday at Hull Kingston Rovers. Well we’ve all got our own ideas and a stiff drink might be a favourable option but for me it’s another match to put things right. Losing in the Challenge Cup hurts. It’s a competition that comes around once a year and to go out 40-0 was a considerable blow that hopefully won’t effect the confidence of the team too much. After last seasons cup defeat the season seemed to fizzle out, it really seemed to knock the stuffing out of the players and we never really recovered.
After a tricky start to the season Leigh are starting to make progress and this is always a big match with local bragging rights on the line.
I’ve always thought Easter to be a magical time to watch Rugby League. The local derby fixtures are always exciting on Good Friday particularly games involving Wigan, St.Helens, Hull and Hull Kingston Rovers. You’ve also got the Heavy Woolen Derby between Batley and Dewsbury, Whitehaven v Barrow and Doncaster play Sheffield. I used to love Salford v Swinton matches at Easter at the Willows or Station Road.
Two games over a weekend could really kick start a season. I know now it’s gone back down to one match but thinking back to when my dad started watching Rugby League it was sometimes three games over Easter!
Super League home record
Salford 4
Draws 0
Leigh 1
2005 Salford 32 Leigh 6
2005 Salford 42 Leigh 6
2017 Salford 12 Leigh 6
2021 Salford 34 Leigh 8
2023 Salford 22 Leigh 24
They played for both.
Luke Adamson, Ed Chamberlain, Kevin Ashcroft, Simon Baldwin, Radney Bowker, David Bradbury, John Duffy, Jacob Emmitt, Matt Gardner, Matty Gee, Bobbie Goulding, Danny Halliwell, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Liam Hood, Peter Smethurst, Stuart Littler, Peter Alstead, Nathan McAvoy, Dean McGilvary, Reni Maitua, Chris Morley, Stephen Nash, Rob Parker, Corey Paterson, John Pendlebury, Michael Platt, Gareth Price, Adam Sidlow, Craig Stapleton, Simon Svabic, John Taylor, Iain Thornley, Mike Wainwright, Junior Sau, Ian Watson and Mal Yates.
A match to remember Friday 22nd April 2005.
Salford 42 Leigh 6.
Salford and Leigh had sparked up a real bitter rivalry in 2003. Playing in National League one both sides were chasing promotion to Super League. During that season the two sides met on seven occasions with Karl Harrison’s Salford winning six matches and the very first meeting of the season ended in a 20-20 draw at Hilton Park. Salford went on to beat Leigh in the Promotion final . The following season Leigh were pushed all the way by Whitehaven finishing above them in the League table by a slender points difference. Leigh gained promotion after beating the Cumbrians in the Promotion Final 32-16
The two sides met in Super League at the Willows twice in 2005. Salford won the first fixture 32-6 and then they met again in April.
Salford had consolidated in 2004 after promotion back to the top flight. A solid season pleased the supporters and the following year the team were once again continuing to make progress. After ten matches Salford had five victories and five defeats. The highlight a 42-6 demolition of Warrington at the Willows on good Friday. A day which Warrington boss Paul Cullen aptly named Black Friday!
Leigh had struggled to adapt to Super League and had managed just one victory over London Broncos but had drawn the previous week at home to Hull.
The Centurions dominated the first half even though they turned round 12-6 down but in the second half Salford put them to the sword.
Salford totally controlled the second half, scoring six tries, centre Stuart Littler went on to complete a hat-trick against his home town club.
Leigh took the lead in the 11th minute when Craig Stapleton’s strong run set up the platform. Phil Jones’ long pass put Ben Cooper in for a try.
Salford were soon back in the match. Cliff Beverley’s one-handed pass out of the tackle got Ian Sibbitt over for the try goaled by Chris Charles.
The first of Littler’s hat trick followed before Both sides traded penalties.
Leigh’s resistance began to fade early in the second half. Salford scored twice to take a 24-6 lead.
When Leigh failed to find touch with a penalty and Ian Knott gave away a penalty at the next play, Salford capitalised with a converted try from lively scrum half Luke Robinson.
Robinson growing in confidence sent Littler in for his second try with a lovely inside pass.
As Leigh ran out of steam Salford finished them off.
A classic end to end attack by Junior Langi, was finished under the posts by Robinson.
In the final stages Leigh crumbled under Salford’s relentless pressure. Andy Coley crashed over before Littler completed his hat-trick. Gareth Haggerty scored Salford’s final try to give them a very well deserved victory.
The teams that day:
Salford, Hodgson, Langi, Littler, McGuinness, Stewart, Beverley, Robinson, Stringer, Alker, Rutgerson, Coley, Sibbit, Charles.
Subs, Jonkers, Shipway, Baldwin, Haggerty.
Leigh: Owen, Smyth, Jackson, Cooper, Maden, Jones, Wilshere, Fleary, Rowley, Sturm, Stapleton, Leafa, Knott. Subs, Stevens, Taylor, Marshall, McCurrie.
Referee, Ronnie Laughton.
Attendance, 5,021.
Saturday’s match.
After a dream season in 2023 Leigh have had a tough start to this season. Last year’s Challenge Cup success was an amazing journey that unfolded. In a way Leigh have been pretty much starved of success very similar to Salford. Like the Red Devils they have a loyal band of supporters and with the great work the club have done off the pitch that support has started to grow.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time working in and around Leigh over the last few years and the whole town is really behind the Leopards. You see a lot of posters and advertising on the roads with the clubs rebrand to Leigh Leopards having a real positive effect. On match days the club have made each game a real event with live music from some really famous acts. I am pretty old school and just go to watch the Rugby League but these days to a lot of people it’s about the event pre match as well, especially if your taking your family. A lot of people scoffed at the Leopard thing but for me they’ve done a great job and lifting the Challenge Cup was the icing on the cake. Rugby league needs more positive attitudes, their is far to much parochialism in the sport. I’ve always lived by the saying, ‘if you’ve got nowt good to say then don’t say anything at all’.
The atmosphere should be electric on Saturday. I know Thursday and Friday night games can be a struggle for supporters to make with work and family commitments but a Saturday teatime kick off looks pretty perfect.
The Leopards brought Lachlan Lam back into the time last weekend against Featherstone. The half back is a crucial part of Leigh’s engine room and with Matt Moylan alongside him it looks a very impressive partnership. Ben McNamara is another clever player who has been in the side in Lam’s absence. Umyla Hanley and Josh Charnley provide lots of pace on the edges. Hanley is the son of Rugby League great Ellery Hanley and he looks to have a big future in the sport scoring a hat trick of tries in their last match.
Leigh are missing key forwards John Asiata and Edwin Ipape but Kai O’Donnell has been impressive so far. Former Salford forward Ben Nakubuwai could also feature.
It will be interesting to see which starting thirteen Salford coach Paul Rowley goes with. Ethan Ryan started on the wing last Friday with David Nofoaluma left out. Ryan Brierley limped off too so their is a doubt on his fitness. All eyes will be on the twenty one man squad when it’s named later this week.
The bookies have struggled to spilt the two sides with Salford very slight favourites, Leigh have a two point start on the handicap.
The action gets under way at 5:30pm.
Safe travels and enjoy the match.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.
Paul Whiteside Rugby League 