East win in NCL but lose in NWML

08 Mar 2020 in News

East win in NCL but lose in NWML East win in NCL but lose in NWML

LEIGH EAST 34 WATERHEAD WARRIORS 24

Leigh East won their second game of the NCL season with a hard-fought success over Waterhead Warriors.

Despite only being able to raise a squad of fourteen players, Waterhead had the better of the first quarter of this game. Visiting centre Jack Pemberton got the Oldham side away to the best possible start with a try after three minutes. Less than five minutes later the Warriors were in double figures as mistakes piled up for the hosts. Josh Fitzgerald chased through a kick that was fumbled at the back and added the goal to make it 0-10. It took the hosts time to settle into the game and a powerful finish from Joe Togher put them on the scoreboard for Adam Holland to convert. Another error gifted possession to Waterhead and Pemberton claimed his second try. Fitzgerald added the conversion to open a 6-16 advantage.

East scored next through Alex McPolin but a penalty goal from Fitzgerald meant that Waterhead led 12-18 at half-time. Injuries restricted Waterhead further. A long run from McPolin set the position for Nathan Gaskell to go over on the right. Waterhead went further ahead when loose forward Will Dickinson chipped the ball forward and regathered, but East struck through Will Ludlow a moment later with Holland's third goal bringing them back within two points.

A flashpoint led to both Pat Rainford (Leigh East) and Mitchell Birch (Waterhead) being sent off for punching but East regained their composure to score next. Togher getting his second. As Waterhead tried to get forward they gifted the ball to home man-of-the-match Ludlow and he ran through the middle from thirty metres. Holland added his fifth goal and East won 34-24. 

Over at Salford City Roosters the hosts proved far too strong for East, defeating them 60-6 in the North West Men's League. Bernard Aboagye scored Leigh East's solitary try with Chris Penn adding the conversion.

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