By Martin Morgan

Published at 15:50, Wednesday, 24 March 2010

HAVEN must hope they get some sidelined players back in the ranks sooner rather than later after Sunday’s opening Championship defeat.

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A makeshift side, without Andy Gorski, Kyle Amor, David Ford, Danny Barker, Leroy Joe and Spencer Miller from their pack, plus Mick Govin, trailed only 12-0 at the break.

But in the second-half any hope of a win, or a bonus point for that matter, soon disappeared.

To make matters worse, they lost Craig Calvert in the opening moments, which prompted a reshuffle, sub Carl Sice moving to the wing.

This not only denied Haven the cutting edge of Calvert out wide, it meant Sice was not available for his usual role later on, sniping around the rucks, and Graeme Mattinson had to perform an extended stint at hooker.

Centre Rob Jackson, facing his old club, several times exploited Leigh’s right-side defence, and young Reece Fox underlined his potential, yet again, in the back-row, while Scott McAvoy returned ahead of schedule for his first appearance of the campaign following a serious groin injury. But, overall, it was a weak performance from Haven.

Leigh started poorly, Mick Nanyn’s kick-off sailing out on the full and Dave Armitstead then coughing up possession in his own half on their first set.

Rob Jackson made a quick impression, enjoying a neat half-break from a scrum and hammering playmaker Robbie Paul to the turf in a tackle, forcing an error.

The first chance fell to Haven, Fox carving an opportunity from nothing as he broke clear from midfield, before being hauled down five metres out.

But the game then turned sour for Haven, who were under pressure after Marc Jackson knocked-on, on his own line, as he dived to take the dangerous Martyn Ridyard’s attacking kick.

From the resulting scrum, Paul jinked through to score, Nanyn adding the first of his five conversions.

The hosts increased their lead on 29 minutes, after prop Richard Farrer was penalised for a late challenge on Paul.

Warrington’s dual registration ace Tyrone McCarthy stepped through to score. Leigh were now winning the territorial battle, Sice knocking dead a dangerous kick from Paul, while McAvoy produced a fantastic tackle to dispossess Nanyn as the rampaging centre headed for the whitewash.

The writing was on the wall for Haven after they made only 25 metres on their first set of the second-half, and when Fox was then penalised for failing to give the defence 10 metres from the clearing kick, the Cumbrians were made to pay, Ridyard crossing out wide.

Haven were still in the game at 16-0 down and should have reduced the deficit when Rob Jackson made a great break.

Sice took the inside pass and crossed the whitewash without a defender in sight. But as he went to touch the ball down it slipped from his grasp.

The incident seemed to rattle Haven, who conceded a couple of quick penalties before Nanyn touched down out wide at the other end.

A tough situation for Haven became impossible when Marc Jackson was sin-binned for a high tackle on Paul, as the former Kiwi international stepped inside the prop.

Ridyard was held up before Jacob Emmett, on dual registration from St Helens, got his name on the scoresheet.

Leigh fans were on their feet as Stuart Donlan fielded a poor kick and Dave Alstead broke from deep as the hosts struck again.

At 34-0 down, Haven were in deep trouble before they finally rallied, Dylan Skee collecting Carl Rudd’s kick as it ricocheted off a defender’s foot, to score.

And three minutes later, Haven were in again, after Rob Jackson again broke down the left. Sice looked sure to score but the Centurions scrambled well to deny him.

But on the next tackle, with Leigh still out of shape, Rudd’s long pass to the right put McAvoy in, Rudd adding his second conversion.

The hosts notched two late scores, both the result of a tiring defence. Winger Steve Maden was unmarked for the first out wide, while, in the last minute, the defence opened up from a scrum and Matty Blythe went down the middle to end a miserable day for Haven.

Haven: Benson, Dawes, McAvoy, R Jackson, Calvert, Rudd, Skee, MacDonald, Mattinson, M Jackson, R Fox, Hill, Thornley. Subs: Sice, D Miler, Farrer, Dalton.

Tries: Skee, McAvoy

Goals: Rudd 2

Leigh: Donlan, Maden, Blythe, Nanyn, Alstead, Ridyard, Paul, Hill, McConnell, Armitstead, Taylor, Leuluai, McCarthy. Subs: Goulden, Duffy, Bibey, Emmett.

Tries: Paul, McCarthy, Ridyard, Nanyn, Emmett, Alstead, Maden, Blythe

Goals: Nanyn 5, Ridyard 1

Attendance: 1,891

Referee: P Brook

Star Man: Rob Jackson

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk