After the hype I don't suppose you could have written a better debut for Blake Ferguson.

I noted Inu had white boots, missed a few conversions so I thought maybe he should switch to his multi-coloured ones, he did and his kicking didn't improve. I think we've been spoiled by his accuracy since he started and hopefully better to have this as an off day than more important upcoming fixtures.

Big stint for Ioane, looking like getting his mojo back after a spell out.

I liked the Brand/Aekins full back interchange, that worked out well.

Good showing for some of the quieter ones on the team today, Jones and Kai.

And when it comes to player retention Asiata is one who should be a lock-in too.

A disappointing attendance but between football and saving for London it didn't surprise me, other than that a pretty workman like performance against at least a determined opposition, shame the ref decided that his nicely manged first 30 minutes needed to be made up for in the remaining time left with odd calls aplenty.

Agreed, ref was piddle poor - Reynolds was shoulder barged in the back well after the ball was gone. It should have resulted in at least a yellow and a better ref would have dealt with it after awarding Nene his hat trick.

Ben was also, in Bongser's opinion, harshly denied a try. Looked good here, "any downward pressure". Others might have had a better angle.

With about a quarter of an hour to play, Ferguson was upended. He was not happy at having his legs lifted well above the equator and informed both his assailant and the wise monkey who had seen no evil, but it heard no evil and proceded to call no evil.

Not Vella impressed.

Change of boots didn't work for Krisnan. Maybe it was the hair - the ginger was okay for kicking, the purple was nigh on perfect but the dumb blonde doesn't (and most certainly didn't) work.

Thought the performance was very good and we bombed a few tries so the score could have been even better. For me Brand needs to replace Inu for the final next week but I know a lot will disagree. The referee completely changed after half an hour and he wasn't going to settle until they scored. We got penalised 3 times when we had the ball for pushing defenders off us as they were holding on.

Good performance and I loved our defence in their half especially. The game got scrappy as subs were made but that is to be expected, it almost felt like a friendly. Hopefully no injuries and we need a big week now before the final.

Churlish of Bongser not to mention Ferguson's debut. Four tries, a fifth put on a plate and a willing workhorse bringing the ball out. Well impressed by his commitment to the cause.

Sidlow was a big miss today especially with Nakubuwai also out (and no Wardle). Green still sub-radar. Any news, prognoses? With a full pack today, Worky would have been blown away - and Inu would have had a better kick percentage. As stated above, better this week than next.

I thought that Reynolds linked up well with Mellor and Aekins today. My only problem with Reynolds is that sometimes he can't decide when to take the line on or pass which stood out 3 times at Batley but, today i thought he got it right. The ref decided to discredit himself 2nd half for some reason.

Good debut for Fergie, and overall after a scratchy 2nd half due to all the changes, I'm going for a Leyth win next wick @ Spurs. COYL.

Nene unfortunately must learn to pass not just hit the line.

I never mentioned Nene, i said Reynolds ffs. Why don't you make that a post of your own? Or are you waiting for me to post so you can have your moment of embarrassment? It's all around the pubs how much of a D**k you are, and how you have succeeded to destroy this forum.

Pack was tremendous Bongser. Carries,yardage all met. Ferguson backflip just cost him his wages.


Nene just needs to learn to pass rather than I can see the line. Lams switch play is a game killer.

Sorry I thought this was a forum for making comments. Or do we all just have to agree with what you say.

Yes it is a forum to make comments but, if you're going to address it to me, make sure you got the right player in question i was alluding to.
I know you're deliberately trying to antagonize me but, just give it a rest.

I didn't go today, finances & parenting took precedent. I did watch on Our League though, between chores & the internet circle of doom & noticed the crowd look significantly low. What was the attendance today ?

Regarding the actual game, 4 tries for Blakey on Day-Boo was impressive (even against bottom placed Workington), more so impressed by his carries & some very good offloads.

The incident where the Ref failed to give Leigh a try & pulled it back for a pen for the grubby hit on Ben Reynolds was a shocker. Why not award the try & then deal with the foul later ? He didn't even give a yellow for it, so effectively awarded Worky 4 - 6 points !

Looking forward to the 1895 Cup now, though again not going.

....'Green still sub-radar. Any news, prognoses?....

Bongser, Green was one of the water carriers today.

Given that Ferguson had the same job on Monday night at Batley I'm guessing that he (Green) is not far from playing again.

Anybody got any news on Sidlow? He was in the main stand today with the rest of the non-playing squad. Another guess, unless someone else has the inside track, is that he was simply being rested for next week. I think that he has played every week for us since the season opener and for most of that time we have been down in numbers in the front row and has had a heavy workload as a result. I think that he has been great and if he has been rested then he has deserved it since he will certainly be needed next week.

Evening Jack. Think Sidlow missed one game early doors but can't remember which.

By 'eck you don't miss much peripheral stuff though, do you? Bongser is weaning himself off sideline spotting as he missed a try completely a few games ago whilst paying attention to a halfway line interchange.

Hopefully a clean bill of health then for next week. Upbeat but not wholly confident.

Evening A, not sure we'd've conceded that wet try with the usual complement in the mids.

Agree about Nene though. There were two or three times when he'd laid the ground for Inu but didn't dose him the pill.

Judging by the piccy topping the match report on our website, Fergy still thinks he's in the Antipodes!!

Bongser, easy to spot these things when you sit in the comfort of the West Stand next to the players. Get a great view of the comedy duo of Lammy and Chessy as well. Sidlow looked fine, but Wardle was moving with some discomfort.

Evening Cokey, good to hear (read) from you. After no 21s/17s for a couple of weeks, Bongser was starting to get concerned.

Staying out of all else.



Septimius, good evening. Bongser, at his age, is also a West Stander (sitter) but, as stated above, only has eyes for the grassy plains.

Tell us, Little & Large, Laurel & Hardy, Morecambe & Wise, Cannon & Ball, Mitchell & Webb or The Two Ronnies?

Any which way, work tomorrow so it's "Goodnight from Bongser"..."and it's goodnight from him." GOODNIGHT!

Ste, It was announced as 2,400 (approx...as I can't remember the last 2 digits)
Even though it looked less than last weeks 2100 (ish)

Hi Budge, they must have been using the Diane Abacus.

"Ste100Centurions" I didn't go today, finances & parenting took precedent. I did watch on Our League though, between chores & the internet circle of doom & noticed the crowd look significantly low. What was the attendance today ?

Regarding the actual game, 4 tries for Blakey on Day-Boo was impressive (even against bottom placed Workington), more so impressed by his carries & some very good offloads.

The incident where the Ref failed to give Leigh a try & pulled it back for a pen for the grubby hit on Ben Reynolds was a shocker. Why not award the try & then deal with the foul later ? He didn't even give a yellow for it, so effectively awarded Worky 4 - 6 points !

Looking forward to the 1895 Cup now, though again not going.



Ste, the try that wasn't given following the hit on Ben, from my view it wasn't a try. I don't know if the tv coverage picked it up - although it could just be that my eyes have completely gone - was that McDonald showboated and cocked it up by landing in touch before he touched the ball down. He had both time and space to dot it down without any extravagant jump over the try line.

Apologies to the lad if in fact he touched down correctly and it is my eyes that have gone but, that's what i saw happen and the reaction of the touch judge who was very close to him (McDonald) was telling because he did not indicate to the ref that McDonald had scored. That is why the ref went back to the late hit on Ben. It also explains why the ref didn't blow for the late hit until after McDonald had tried to score.

No doubt I am completely wrong and the TV coverage showed what really happened, namely the ref cocked-up and denied us a legitimate try

I am going to the game next week and cannot wait. Money is tight for us all and games down in London, to add to the cost, usually also necessitates at least one night down there staying over as well. I'm too old for or a very long day travelling there and back in the same day either by car, coach or train. Also these occasions, for us Leigh fans, do not come around too often in a lifetime and on that basis the money to go has had to be found. Like everyone else who is going, or those back home watching on TV, I'm really looking forward to next Saturday's game. Life is all too short. Here's hoping we will all be remembering next Saturday's result for all the right reasons for decades to come.

Regarding the disallowed try, if you watch the replay, the touch judge clearly stands his ground and doesn't continue down the touchline after Reynolds' pass, which suggests he called a forward pass - and if you watch the ref, he puts his whistle to his lips before McDonald touches down (though only signals straight afterwards). Did look a clear sin bin offence though.

Thanks for clarifying that one. If it was a forward pass then so be it, the ref acted correctly. From my position in the ground i was behind the play so could not tell if the pass was behind, flat or a yard forward.

I would still like to see if McDonald landed in touch first before grounding the ball. Totally irrelevant to what happened in the game but rather important from a personal eye test point of view.

From where I was he touched the ball down while he was in the air. There is a photo currently on the Leigh Journal website which would appear to somewhat corroborate my view, naturally I was following the ball so missed the late hit, I would say it was a flat pass



I'd concur with a previous post, Nene does seem to get white line fever, he's far better coming back on the inside too, which given the kicking performance might have helped was a more flattering scoreline.

Cheers Budgie lad.
I think next game for me will be Fev at home which will require a days annual leave again.