2020 Challenge Cup Round 5, Hull KR 22 Leigh Centurions 19 – Report
Ben Guzdek reviews the Challenge Cup clash between Hull KR and Leigh. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 8th | Try: Adam Higson. Goal: Ben Reynolds (Leigh) | Hull KR 0-6 Leigh |
| 19th | Try: Ben Hellewell. Goal: Ben Reynolds (Leigh) | Hull KR 0-12 Leigh |
| 23rd | Try: Kane Linnett. Goal: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR) | Hull KR 6-12 Leigh |
| 27th | Try: Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Goal: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR) | Hull KR 12-12 Leigh |
| 31st | Try: Will Dagger. Goal: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR) | Hull KR 18-12 Leigh |
| 66th | Try: Liam Hood. Goal: Ben Reynolds (Leigh) | Hull KR 18-18 Leigh |
| 71st | Drop-Goal: Josh Woods (Leigh) | Hull KR 18-19 Leigh |
| 80th | Try: Nick Rawsthorne (Hull KR) | Hull KR 22-19 Leigh |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
Leigh struck first in the opening minutes as they spread the ball out wide on their first attacking set and score in the corner through Adam Higson.
Ten minutes later Ben Hellewell broke the line and scored next to the posts to give the Centurions a 12-0 lead in the opening quarter.
But Rovers started to come back into the game when Linnett took the short pass from Mikey Lewis and barged over for his first of 2020. Shaun Kenny-Dowall also got his debut try just minutes later to level the scores.
With half-time approaching Adam Quinlan layed on a grubber kick which bounces well for Will Dagger, who scores Rovers’ third and a six-point lead going into the second half.
2nd Half
It was a topsy-turvy 25 minutes until Liam Hood darted out from dummy-half to level the scores once again, before Josh Woods got the drop-goal to take the lead.
But in the last seven seconds. Nick Rawsthorne barged his way over the line after a brilliant passage of play which was similar to their try of the month winner from Ben Crooks at the Hull derby.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
Although opening the scoring Adam Higson’s discipline wasn’t right on the day as he got sin-binned twice which gave Rovers the advantage.
When Leigh were looking like winning the tie, Rovers used that to their advantage and gained plenty of metres before those final few seconds when Rawsthorne scored the winner.
Higson’s late dismissal could’ve made a difference for Leigh but unfortunately the team couldn’t hold on without him.
SQUADS
Hull KR: Adam Quinlan, Will Dagger, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Nick Rawsthorne, Ethan Ryan, Jordan Abdull, Mikey Lewis, George Lawler, Elliot Minchella, Dan Murray, Weller Hauraki, Kane Linnett, Harvey Livett.
Interchanges: Owen Harrison, Kyle Trout, Jez Litten, Matty Gee.
Leigh: Gregg McNally, Ryan Shaw, Iain Thornley, Junior Sa’u, Adam Higson, Ben Reynolds, Josh Woods, Alex Gerrard, Liam Hood, Mark Ioane, Ben Hellewell, Jordan Thompson, Danny Addy.
Interchanges: Matty Wildie, Nick Glohe, Thomas Spencer, Callum Field.
