Leigh Centurions 17

VIKINGS hero James Briers leapt like a salmon to catch and score in the dying minutes as Widnes played their get-out-of-jail card to defeat Leigh Centurions at the Auto Quest stadium.

Only four minutes remained with the visitors leading 16-17 and looking likely winners when substitute Mark Hewitt's intelligent kick to the corner allowed Briers to rise above his opposite number and scramble the few remaining yards to score.

It was a fitting conclusion to a nail-biting cup tie though you would be hard pressed to find any Leigh fans to agree with that sentiment.

For much of the game, the visitors took the game to the Vikings with their robust approach and will feel they deserved something out of it.

The first-half was nip-and-tuck.

Leigh took the lead with a try in the right corner by Mark Burrows superbly converted by ex-Viking Phil Kendrick, only to see the Vikings level the scores after 23 minutes when the impressive Steve Argent stormed through several tackles to score under the posts.

The 6-6 stalemate remained until half-time but Widnes got the perfect start to the second-half.

A great pass around the tackle by Paul Mansson found substitute Jim Cassidy in support and the back-rower showed great speed and strength to shrug off a last ditch tackle to score after a 35 yard run.

However, the Vikings were rocked back on their heels in the 50th minute when Mansson was dismissed.

Leigh full-back Stuart Donlan's brilliant kick return saw him cut through the Widnes first line of defence and beat full-back Dean Cross only to run into Mansson who, fortunately for Widnes was lagging behind the play having been injured.

To most observers, Mansson's challenge looked like a classic ball-and-all tackle but referee Ganson didn't see it that way and sent the Kiwi stand-off from the field.

Kendrick's penalty made it 10-8.

On 62 minutes, superb sleight of hand from Cassiday sent Paul Harris through and he found Mom Phil Cantillon on his shoulder to sprint 30 yards to score.

Hewitt's goal increased the lead to 16-8.

A first tackle knock-on by George Mann enabled Leigh to set up camp in the Vikings '20 and the pressure was made to count when another ex-Viking Anthony Murray dived over from dummy-half.

At 16-12 and down to 12 men, Widnes looked to be wilting and another knock-on, this time by Cross, set up the position for Leigh substitute Rodney Bowker to crash over to make it 16-16.

An attempted drop by Hewitt was charged down but Kendrick had no such difficulty at the other end as the Widnes defence gave him all the time in the world to slot a one-pointer.

All looked lost but from the kick-off Hewitt managed to regather his own short kick and fine runs from Savelio and Cantillon set up the position for Briers to perform his rescue act.

Even then, the Vikings had to withstand some late pressure when Harris allowed the kick-off to roll into dead to give the visitors one last chance which they couldn't quite take.

While no doubt delighted to be in the Quarter-Finals, there was plenty in this performance for the Widnes coaching staff to work on.

Leigh were sharper around the play-the-ball and showed more nous in slowing the Vikings down at the ruck.

In addition, the visitor's kick-and-chase game was superior to that of Widnes.

A home tie against Leeds Rhinos will no doubt fill the Auto Quest stadium but the Vikings will need to up their game considerably if they are to compete with the cup favourite.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.