Looking to build on the improvement points from the last few matches, a strong Leigh squad were eager to get going and chalk up another win on the season.

Leigh started fast, with a couple of powerful carries from the forwards and centre Jake Sheldon allowing the pace of fullback Charlie Parker to wreak havoc on the outside with a chip and chase, expertly weighted to force Gillingham over their own line and give Leigh the ball with a 5 metre scrum. It became clear early on that Leigh would dominate this area of the match, quickly getting onto the front foot front he set piece, and following Will McDowell being stopped just short of the line, Adam Johnson was there to open the scoring from close range underneath the posts. Jake Bright added the extras, and Leigh were up 0-7 inside 5 minutes.

Leigh were quickly presented another opportunity with a scrum in close range to Gillingham’s try line, and after poor discipline on the line from the hosts, Will McDowell took a quick tap-and-go penalty to dive over the line for the second of the match. Jake Bright’s conversion curled through the posts and the scoreboard read 0-14 after 13 minutes.

Some poor handling from Gillingham gave Leigh possession once again in their 22, with Callum Erskine breaking the line and offloading to Tim Stratton-Nott who both came agonisingly close to adding another try, but Adam Johnson was there once again to capitalise on the opportunity and scored Leigh’s third of the afternoon. Jake Bright unfortunately could not convert on the challenging kick from the left wing, leaving the score at 0-19.

Gillingham then capitalised on the opportunity presented to them by poor discipline from Leigh deep in their own territory, diving over the line to open their account for the day. An unsuccessful conversion meant the score read 5-19 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

More poor discipline in defence from Leigh gave the hosts another penalty on the 5 metre line, and a powerful drive gave them their second score, and another missed conversion had Leigh still in a dominant position on the scoreboard, 10-19 at half time.

After a back and forth period to open the second half, Leigh claimed possession back with a devastating counter ruck, and quick hands from Alastair McKenzie and Orlando Nikhwai put Charlie Parker in for his first try down the blindside. Jake Bright slotted the conversion from in front of the posts, making the score 10-26.

After another sustained period with neither side affecting the scoreboard, Leigh spread the ball wide to unleash Charlie Parker’s pace once again, the diminutive fullback breaking two tackles to streak away from the opposition from 40 metres out to score his second try under the posts, and after Jake Bright added the extras once again, the score read 10-33, with both sides attempting to add more points before full time, but ultimately no attacks bearing fruit.

Everyone in a Leigh shirt played their hearts out this weekend, but special mention to speedster Charlie Parker, a surgical performance at fly half from Jake Bright as well as back row combination Alfie and Alex Manley, who were the most recent father-son duo to share a pitch for the club this Saturday.

We are finally back at the Field of Dreams next week, taking on Folkstone II - we hope to see you all there to cheer on the squad for the final time at home for 2025!