The last time these two sides met saw the end of Leigh’s 27 game unbeaten run and saw their dreams of a unbeaten league season go up in smoke as London played what was described as “the best 80 minutes they have seen from any team in the championship this season.”
This time round their is no extended unbeaten run and Leigh are no longer favourites for promotion at the end of the season after losing their coach Paul Rowley before the season and then losing their first round fixture at Batley. The Centurions now under new head coach Neil Jukes won their first game of the season 48-18 against Oldham Roughyeds thanks to a three try performance from interchange Sam Hopkins. His three tries coming in one thirteen minute spell. But there was still drama as we didn’t see Ryan Brierley amid specualation he can leave the club due to a clause in his contract he can leave the club as Paul Rowley has left the club. Derek Beaumont has defended the decision to leave Brierley in the Leigh observer explaining that the club didn’t have to defend it’s selection policy.
London are two from two after victory against Swinton at the club’s new home at Ealing as they scored 26 unanswered second half points after being 12-18 down at half time. Alex Walker scored the first two tries for London from full back and Daniel Harrison and Will Barthau stood out for the home side as they blew the Lions away in the second half. Coach Andrew Henderson said “We still have lots of room for improvement. It is early in the season and I know we can do better. We weren’t quite where we wanted to be in the first half but credit to Swinton as they completed at 94% in the first half.”
The sides have met five times in the last eleven years and league victories are two apiece and Leigh having a handsome Challenge Cup victory last season. Victory has always gone with the home club in that time so Centurions will be looking to continue that this weekend.
Leigh’s 19 man squad – Higson, Worthington, Kay, Brierley, Moimoi, Weston, Hansen, Hock, Paterson, Higham, Pownall, Maitua, Acton, Foster, Hopkins, Chase, Smith, Whiting, Emmitt
London’s 19 man squad – Ackers, Barthau, Battye, Bussey, Cunningham, Davis, Foster, Garside, Harrison, Hellewell, Ioane, Leatherbarrow, Macani, Naiqama, Slyney, Stapleton, Thackray, Walker, R Williams
