Leigh Centurions 22-64 Hull FC
Betfred Super League Round 10
Leigh Centurions suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, beaten 64-22 by Hull FC at Leigh Sports Village.
Brett Hodgson’s side scored 12 tries including a hat-trick for Andre Savelio while Marc Sneyd kicked eight conversions.
The damage was done in a dominant first half when Leigh conceded seven tries. The result was hard to take for Leigh Centurions interim head coach Kurt Haggerty given the recent improvement in performances which included a narrow defeat against Super League leaders Catalans Dragons only a week ago.
The only bright spot for Leigh was the performance of Ryan Brierley who scored two tries to reach 150 for the Club. He also moved third on the Club’s all-time try-scorer list behind Mick Martyn (189) and John Woods (152).
Ben Hellewell and Matty Wildie also played meaning they reached their 200th career appearances.
Leigh had to deal with the late withdrawal of Lewis Tierney and Brendan Elliot from the squad and their cause was not helped by a disastrous start; the kick-off was spilled and moments later Jake Connor crossed for the visitors.
To their credit, Leigh replied quickly with a fine try from James Bell, created by a determined run and pass by Liam Hood. The conversion from Brierley edged Leigh into a 6-4 lead.
Back-to-back tries from Adam Swift and Manu Ma’u saw Hull FC wrestle back the lead but with Sneyd unable to convert either, Leigh were still in the game at 12-6.
However, further scores from Bureta Paraimo, Mahe Fonua and a second from Swift took the game beyond Leigh.
Savelio scored four minutes before the break and Sneyd’s conversion gave Hull FC a commanding 34-6 lead.
The second half was less than a minute old when Hull FC added their next try through Connor Wynne.
Ben Reynolds scored Leigh’s first try of the second half as he took on the defensive line before cutting through to touch down in the 44th minute.
Hull FC replied with tries of their own through Jack Brown and Savelio though Brierley scored a fine solo try in the 59th minute which he converted himself.
As the game entered the final quarter, Tevita Satae and Savelio added further tries before Brierley got his second try which moved him to third outright on Leigh’s all-time try-scoring list. His conversion completed the scoring at 22-64.
Teams
Leigh: Brierley, Sa’u, Thornley, Hellewell, Mullen, Reynolds, Mellor, Mason, Hood, Ioane, McCarthy, Gee, Bell. Subs: Peats, Peteru, Wildie, Russell
Hull FC: Connor, Faraimo, Fonua, Wynne, Swift, Reynolds, Sneyd, Sao, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Ma’u, Lane. Subs: Johnstone, Fash, Brown, Vulikijapani
Attendance (reduced capacity): 2,363
Referee: James Child
Main match sponsor: Briggs & Forrester Group
Man of the Match (chosen by Briggs & Forrester): Ryan Brierley
