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[Honor James]

Played at Ince Rose Bridge ARLFC

Central Coast Centurions won their opening game of the tour over a plucky and brave Lancashire who gave their all in a fast opening game played on a warm night given the torrential rain over the last forty eight hours.

The home sides cause wasn’t helped by their indiscipline with four out of six of the Centurions tries coming after penalties, two of which in the second half came following the sin-binning of standoff Josh Wood. They battled on and second row forward Sam Welch (Wigan St Patricks) Lancashire’s man of the match had the last word as he scored the final try of the game.

Ironically it was the Centurions man of the match Ryan Doherty who scored his side’s final try and made three others as he got his backs moving superbly and driving his forwards on who had a mammoth battle up front with the Lancashire pack. After a frenzied opening the Centurions took control of the game with tries in either corner of the field first from sixteen years old giant Myles Taverli going over on their right side from a penalty and following back to back penalties Luke Sharpe joined the line to double the lead.

Lancashire were struggling for possession and territory having to defend and they went 12-0 behind following a superb Doherty break down the middle, on the next tackle an ingoal grubber was fumbled by Lancashire and Mitch Jacobs touched down and Todd Lewis missed his third conversion.

Lancashire were still in it and Welch, Kieran Sherrit (Wigan St Patricks), Liam Naughton (Thatto Heath Crusaders) from promptings from Sam Hollingsworth (Wigan St Patricks), Joe prior (Wigan St Patricks) and Josh Wood (Orrell St James) saw them come to the fore in the last fifteen minutes. In the last minute of the half they cut the lead to eight points after Nathan Lane had dropped on an angled ingoal grubber from Curtis Hampson (Wigan St Patricks). From the drop out Lancashire stormed forward and Prior’s cut out pass found Sam Baggerley (Wigan St Patricks) and the winger swooped in at the corner.

Lancashire took the game to the Centurions in the opening minutes of the second half and were camped inside their final five but they couldn’t turn the pressure into points. They then gave away another penalty and impressive Josh Whitelam drove, spun and drove over the line with several defenders trying to put him to ground to make it 16-4.

After several penalties the referee’s patience ran out and he sin-binned Jones and the Centurions hit Lancashire with a double whammy. Quick hands saw Jesse Bogle go over and Mitch Riley added the first of his two goals and following an ingoal grubber from skipper Daniel Langbridge Doherty crossed the whitewash for a six pointer to make it 28-4 and it looked bleak for the home side. But Lancashire stormed back with Welch, Rob Hamon (Blackbrook Royals) putting some huge hits in until the latter went off injured. Welch deservedly scored his side’s second try when he drove over from close range and Hampson added the extras.

LANCASHIRE UNDER 17’S: 1. Curtis Hampson (Wigan St Patricks), 2. Liam Marshall (Wigan St Patricks), 3. Sean Brown (Orrell St James), 4. Rob Meadows (Ince Rose Bridge), 5. Sam Baggerley (Wigan St Patricks), 6. Josh Wood (Orrell St James), 7. Joe Prior (Capt) (Wigan St Patricks), 8. Tom Marsh (Orrell St James, 9. Sam Hollingsworth (Wigan St Patricks), 10. Liam Naughton (Thatto Heath Crusaders), 11. Kieran Sherrit (Wigan St Patricks), 12. Sam Welch (Wigan St Patricks), 13. Connor Casey (Oldham St Annes). Subs: 14. Jack Swarbrick (Wigan St Patricks), 15. Rob Hamon (Blackbrook Royals), 16. Tom Smith (Bold Miners), 17. Deon Cross (Blackbrook Royals), 18. Dillon James (Wigan St Patricks), 19. Jack Day (Blackbrook Royals), 20. Neil Allen (Bold Miners).
Tries: Baggerley, Welch, Goals: Hampson ½

SOUTH SYDNEY JUNIORS: 21. Luke Sharpe, 3. Callum Blincoe, 20. Mitch Riley, 12. Rhys Edwards, 5. Jesse Bogle, 9. Ryan Doherty, 18. Todd Lewis, 14. Wade Kemplen, 17. Daniel Langbridge (Capt), 11. Noah Easton, 6. Mitch Casson, 25. Myles Taverli, 36. Josh Whitelam. Subs: 16. Nathan Lane, 1. Daniel Bell, 13. Mitch Jacobs, 4. Sean Boyton, 22. Sami Tarchichi, 2. Jack Beresford, 7. Curtis Clifford.
Tries: Taveli, Sharpe, Jacobs, Whitelam, Bogle, Doherty Goals:Riley 2/2, Lewis 0/3, Langbridge 0/1

Half-time: 4-12
Men of the Match: Sam Welch (Lancashire), Ryan Doherty (Central Coast Chargers)

Steve Manning
BARLA Media Manager