Halifax Panthers 16-26 Leigh Centurions: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

Halifax Panthers took on Leigh Centurions in the Championship tonight live on Premier Sports.

It was only 10-4 at the break to visitors Leigh following tries to Mark Ioane and Nene MacDonald, but the Centurions stepped up their game in the second-half, registering scores through Keanan Brand and Tom Amone to make it 22-4.

Fax managed to narrow the gap with 15 minutes remaining as James Saltonstall crossed in the corner and with Joe Keyes’ conversion, it was 22-10.

But, Joe Wardle notched his first Centurions try with eight minutes to go before Lachlan Walmsley registered a pure consolation in the 80th minute to round off the scoring at 26-16.

Highlights

Nene MacDonald coming out of the line to smash James Woodburn-Hall was like poetry in motion.

Leigh’s Tom Amone scored his first-ever career try tonight, charging onto a short pass.

Talking points

1. How good is the Championship?

It was yet another rip-roaring, entertaining clash live on Premier Sports between Fax and Leigh. It’s obvious that these two sides will be near the top of the Championship table by the end of the season and they were worth the admission fee alone.

2. Nene MacDonald for Super League?

Leigh pulled off a major coup signing Nene MacDonald from Norths Devils and he is absolutely carving it up in the Championship. He put in another brilliant performance for the Centurions and was unstoppable at times, with the Halifax defence unable to keep hold of him on numerous occasions.

3. James Bell to get a Saints chance?

James Bell joined St Helens in the off-season but he has yet to make an appearance for the Merseyside club. Instead, he played for Leigh and enjoyed every minute. The Scotland international was in inspired form, putting in some big hits as well as some bulldozing runs. Surely his Super League debut isn’t far away.

Player ratings

Halifax Panthers

James Woodburn-Hall – 8
Lachlan Walmsley – 6
Joe Arundel – 6
Zak McComb – 7
James Saltonstall – 6
Corey Aston – 7
Joe Keyes – 7
Dan Murray – 6
Brandon Moore – 7
Nathan Mason – 8
Jack Ashworth – 7
Matt Garside – 6
Adam Tangata – 6
Substitutes
Kyle Wood – 7
Titus Gwaze – 6
Will Calcott – 6
Ed Barber – 6

Leigh Centurions

Caleb Aekins – 9
Krisnan Inu – 8
Nene MacDonald – 9
Ed Chamberlain – 8
Keanan Brand – 7
Ben Reynolds – 7
Joe Mellor – 8
Adam Sidlow – 8
Aaron Smith – 7
Tom Amone – 9
Joe Wardle – 7
Sam Stone – 7
John Asiata – 6
Substitutes
Mark Ioane – 8
James McDonnell – 8
James Bell – 9
Ata Hingano – 7