Drenched Hawks fail to trouble Centurions

Players on both sides deserved credit for their fortitude after referee Matthew Thomason decided against abandoning the game, and after trailing 32-0 at the break the Hawks adapted better to the appalling conditions.

Hunslet were made to pay for some missed chances and pitiful tackling as they were 22-0 behind after only 18 minutes. Tommy Goulden, Matt Gardner, Sam Hopkins and Rob Parker tore through the Hawks’ flimsy defence, Martyn Ridyard converting three.

When full-back Stuart Kain eventually made a break, a try-scoring opportunity was missed when the supporting Luke Haigh put down Kain’s pass.

After Greg McNally strolled through for Leigh’s fifth try, improved by Ridyard, Hawks coach Barry Eaton called his players to the touchline for a lecture and his words sparked an improvement, with home winger Lee Mapals twice only a fraction away from scoring in the corner. However, Gardner’s second try got Leigh back on course.

Torrential rain and surface water greeted the start of the second half, against a backdrop of thunder and lightning, inevitably slowing Leigh down, but Stuart Littler aqua-planed his way over in the corner for the visitors’ seventh try.

The heavy pitch suited the Hawks and centre Josh Nathaniel scored an interception try.

Hunslet Hawks: Kain; Mapals, Nathaniel, Welham, Brickwood; Helliwell, Karalius; Yates, Haigh, Benjafield, Clayton, Oakes, Hodgson. Substitutes: McLocklan, Watson, Lewis, Tootill.

Leigh Centurions: McNally; Maden, Littler, Gardner, Pownall; Ridyard, Duffy; Ostick, Nicholson, Parker, Leuluai, Goulden, Hopkins. Substitutes: Beswick, Henderson, Thornley, Taylor.

Referee: M Thomason (Warrington).