LEIGH EAST 14

 

Leigh East lost further ground on the top two after conceding ten tries at league leaders Hunslet Warriors. It was an East side with ten changes to the previous week with a whole host of players unavailable and although they battled, the Warriors were too strong.

 

After kicking the ball out on the full from the start, East were on the back foot and hooker Liam Brown took advantage to push over for the first score after three minutes. Tom Boardman quickly followed before East rallied.

 

Zac Nicholls looked to score following a good move on the left but had the ball stolen as he was about to touch down and Joe Togher also had two tries ruled out. Hunslet Warriors continued their big start with tries from Josh McLelland and Dave Norton while lynchpin halfback Daryl Gaunt found his kicking boots to extend their lead to 20-0.

 

Just before half-time, Leigh East got some reward when Connor Johnson charged to the posts. This became a rare eight-point try after Johnson was fouled and Andrew Ball kicked both goals to make it 20-8 at halftime.

 

The second half started poorly for Leigh East and like in the first, Hunslet took advantage. Lee West and halfback Richard Wheelhouse ran in tries with Gaunt extending the advantage to 30-8. East continued to battle with debutant Connor Grainey making some valuable meters in the middle and back rowers Will Ludlow and Louis Else also going well, but the hosts superior firepower took them away again with four more tries in eighteen minutes. Liam Gaunt (2), Nathan Clapham and Brown all scored with Daryl Gaunt taking his goal tally to seven for the game.