Leigh Centurions v WIDNES VIKINGS SUNDAY 18TH AUGUST 2019 @ 3PM BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP FROM# LEYTHERS THE TOP...# OURTOWNOURCLUB Welcome to Leigh Sports Village for In the mean-time, Widnes Vikings live long in the memory, the standards the penultimate home game of the are looking forward to next in the Championship continue to rise. It regular season. weekend’s inaugural AB Sundecks was interesting to learn that more It’s amazing how quickly the season has 1895 Cup Final at Wembley viewers watched the recent Bradford- flown by and it only seems five minutes Stadium against Sheffield Eagles. Toronto game on Sky that the Super since John and Jay Duffy, Paul Widnes, like ourselves, embraced the League games on offer that weekend Anderson and Micky Higham were competition which has breathed new and with rising numbers of traffic for assembling the squad and featuring on life into clubs outside Super League and the excellent OurLeague app, the Chris Hall’s superb feature on ITV with a given them a realistic opportunity to Championship is showcasing what a Blues Brothers theme, getting the band play at Wembley. terrific competition it is, with some great games and players. back together. The joy of the Widnes fans, players and It’s remarkable, in my opinion, that officials after that nerve-wracking semi- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Leigh Centurions go into this final here three weeks ago was there If you haven’t signed up for OurLeague afternoon’s game in third place in the for all to see and it’s just reward for the I’d recommend you do and please Betfred Championship and looking Vikings faithful after a year that began mention Leigh Centurions when ahead to the play-offs. That poses its amidst so much uncertainty and downloading as the club benefits own challenges and, couple with the concern. directly from this. last game of the regular season being I’m sure Kieron Purtill will, however, ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: in Toronto there could be plenty of air have his team focused firmly on this Martyn Ridyard’s seven goals at miles clocked up during the autumn. afternoon’s game as the Vikings are still Spotland left him just six points The play-off system rewards the highest not mathematically clear of relegation. short of becoming only the third placed club with home advantage in That 12-point deduction left them with Leigh player in history to score every game, including the final and a mountain to climb pre-season and 2,000 points for the club. John works as follows: two defeats since the semi-final has Woods and the late Jimmy Ledgard First round seen them three points above Barrow are the others. Raiders in the battle to avoid the second Match 1 - Elimination Play-off: 4v5 When Martyn achieves that feat, it will relegation spot. (loser eliminated) be richly deserved and a very proud day Match 2 - Qualifying Play-off: 2v3 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: for him and his family. Second round Rochdale Hornets, meanwhile, have Ryan Brierley overtook Des Drummond Match 3 - Qualifying Semi-Final: 1 v already fallen through the trap door in the all-time try-scorers list for the Winner of Match 2 (winner to grand but from the evidence of last club into fourth place with his try at final) Sunday’s trip to Spotland are Spotland, his 142nd for the club. Well Match 4 - Elimination Semi-Final: working hard to revive the famous done, Ryan, that’s a special Loser of Match 2 v Winner of Match 1 old club. achievement. (loser eliminated) Founded in 1871 Hornets are one of the ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Third round oldest rugby clubs in the North and they Match 5 - Final Eliminator: Loser of This afternoon the Leigh Centurions retain a small but passionate band of Match 3 v Winner of Match 4 players will be warming up in officials and supporters who always Fourth round special @twohipsoneknee tee- make you welcome. Grand Final shirts for his wife Rosey’s Two Match 6 - Winner of Match 3 v Winner Pre match it was great to see a full Hips, One Knee fundraising of Match 5 (highest placed club at room in hospitality who listened to a initiative. long and illuminating talk on State of home) These one off tee-shirts will then be Mind by the former Hornets prop Danny ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: signed by each player and then Sculthorpe. On the field, after trailing auctioned off to help raise money for It’s not inconceivable that over a five- 40-0 after less than half-an-hour @twohipsoneknee. week period Leigh could go to Toronto Hornets showed plenty of character to three times and Toronto twice, all bounce back and score three tries. I’m sure you agree they look fantastic games arranged at short notice. It’s a and I hope that they raise a lot of funds Just like Swinton Lions had shown the logistical nightmare especially for a for this very worthy cause. Rosey’s previous week, when Matty Ashton part-time team. inspirational and indomitable spirit scored four spectacular tries that will remains inspirational. THE CENTURION • THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF LEIGH CENTURIONS RLFC 3 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB HONOURS WHO’S WHO Winter era FROM THE TOP... Continued (1895-96 to 1995-96) AT LEIGH CENTURIONS Championship Winners: Owner Statistician 1905-06, 1981-82 week and presented Junior Sa’u with a not least for his time at Widnes, but he Division Two Champions: Special fundraising strip Mr Derek Beaumont Mr Cliff Sumner framed photograph to mark his 250th still that burning desire to be successful Operational Board Of Directors Social Media Manager 1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89 Mr Michael Latham (Chairman) Mr Darren Lilly Challenge Cup Winners: career game. and to contribute to the team effort. Mr Jason Huyton Retail Outlet Manager 1921, 1971 I think it’s brilliant the way John Duffy I went to all the Wembley finals Mr Steve Hill Ms Gillian Jolley Lancashire Cup Winners: has embraced these special moments involving Widnes in the 1970s and ‘80s 1952, 1955, 1970, 1981 Chief Executive IT Manager in a player’s career and before last and what great memories come back Mr Matthew Chantler Mr Andrew Parkinson (runners-up 1909, 1920, 1922, 1949, Honorary Life President Club Ambassador 1951, 1963, 1969) Sunday’s game at Rochdale Micky reflecting on those trips. I was only Mr Brian Bowman Mr Alex Murphy OBE BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: Higham was presented with a canvas thinking the other day, though, that the Honorary Vice President Official Club Photographers 1969, 1972 (runners-up 1968, 1976) print to mark his 150th Leigh game. most memorable game I’ve ever seen Mr Andy Burnham Mr Jerry Lyons South West Lancashire & Border Widnes play was that never-to-be- Towns Cup Winners: 1901 If you look at the players’ statistics page Life Members SuperLeigh (Hilton Park Society) forgotten night at Old Trafford in 1989 ITA TV Trophy runners-up 1955 elsewhere in the programme, you’ll see Mr Tommy Coleman Manager when they were crowned World Club Summer era (1996 to date) lots more milestones are coming up for Dr Morris Doublet-Stewart Ms Christine Brown Promotion to Super League: many of our team. Champions after defeating Canberra Mr Michael Latham Assistant Manager Raiders 30-18. Thirty years ago! Mr John Massey Mr Jonathan Simpkin 2004,2016 York City Knights visit LSV in the first Mr Steve Openshaw Co-Ordinator League Leaders: It was good to see Ben Reynolds Derek Pyke has the game of his life that Premiership 2001, Sunday of September before we close Mr Fred Parkinson Mr Paul Robinson return to the club last week and I’m our regular league programme in night and his offloading skills played a Mr Alan Platt National League One 2004, sure Ben will be looking forward to Leigh Community Trust Championship 2014,2015,2016 Toronto. It’s a great shame that there big part in Widnes’s great win. Mind you Mr Allan Rowley stepping out at LSV again this Mr Frank Taylor Programmes Director Grand Final Winners: won’t be any Sky coverage of that when you look back at some of the Mr John Woods Ms Hannah Forbes National League One 2004, afternoon. game having had it for all Toronto players in that team, Tait, Currier, Community Manager Championship 2014 Popular former club captain Adam games up to now and many of our Davies, Wright, Offiah, Tony Myler, David Head Coach Ms Heather Parker-Preece (runners-up: Premiership 2000, 2002, Hulme in the backs; Grima, McKenzie, Mr John Duffy Youth Mental Health Officers Bristow has also enjoyed returning to supporters were very disappointed to National League One 2003) Sorensen, Paul Hulme and Eyres Assistant Coaches Mr Mick Nanyn National league Cup Winners: Leigh for a short holiday with his family learn that news. Mr Paul Anderson Mr Michael Ostick and will be taking in today’s game alongside him in the pack there was 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Mr Micky Higham Mens Health Officer (runners-up 2003) before flying home. Adam’s one of only plenty to offload to. What a team! (Strength & Conditioning) Mr Ste Maden Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: three players from overseas to make Mr Jason Duffy Sky Try Primary Lead Coach A big welcome to Kevin Brown. It Great memories and I’m sure the Match Day Support Staff Tom Simms 2001 (runners-up 2000) over one hundred appearances for the was great to chat with him earlier current Widnes fans will create their Mr Simon Svabic (team manager) Inclusion Officer club, the others being Mick Bolewski in the week and it’s clear that he’s own memories next Saturday.