Leigh Centurions 18, York 12

PROBABLY the only person who didn't feel the pressure in yesterday's nail-biter was coach Ian Millward. Trailing 12-2 and then 12-4 at half time Leigh could easily have had a panic attack. But they kept their nerve and finally came up with the goods to get their league campaign off to a winning start.

"I had every confidence that the players could turn it round," revealed the Hilton Park boss.

"We were outplayed in the first 40 minutes because of what we didn't do rather than what York did to us. But at 12-4 we were still in with a shout. It's all about having the belief to get on and do the job, " he added.

"At half time the players were confident they could pull the game out of the fire and I had confidence in them."

Although it was a closer shave than they would have liked, Leigh are unbeaten under Millward in four games now . . . and team confidence is growing by the minute.

The loss of skipper Craig Dean on Saturday morning with an ankle injury was a big disruption. "He's not only our captain but main organiser, goal-kicker and tactical kicker," says Millward. "Not surprisingly our pattern was disjointed."

But out of adversity up stepped an unlikely hero. Phil Kendrick wouldn't have started but for Dean's injury but his try and four goals were priceless.

"Phil was out practising his goalkicking on Sunday morning and couldn't hit a barn door. Then he lands four from five - and looked good doing it," added Millward. Kendrick's success with the boot was vital as York outscored Leigh three tries to two. But unlike Kendrick neither Craig Booth nor Chris Hopcutt could find the target.

York showed, especially in the first half, that they have the ability to shake one or two big names this season. They're well organised and difficult to break down.

Leigh didn't help themselves by repeatedly turning the ball over and the flow of the game was stifled by 29 penalties. But the closeness of the score and Leigh's determined second half fightback made it a good seven quid's worth.

Millward put two of York's three tries down to missed one-on-one tackles. "The players concerned know they messed up. But that can be put right." Lively full-back and skipper John Strange scored York's first in the 13th minute and the forceful Richard Goddard put winger Leigh Deakin over in the corner for a second just three minutes later.

Kendrick pulled two points back with a penalty before York collected their third try when Chris Judge burst through from 20 metres. A second Kendrick penalty just before the break put Leigh just eight points adrift.

There was no sign of panic, only mounting frustration as Leigh battled to get things right in the second half.

They had York almost constantly pinned in their own half but had to wait until the 65th minute for the breakthrough. And when it came it was the bubbly Anthony Murray who switched play and sent Kendrick through a yawning gap to score a six-pointer by the uprights. Three minutes later it was done and dusted. Radney Bowker's inside ball found Andy Fairclough at full throttle and he showed tremendous strength and determination to batter his way through a wall of defenders to score from 20 metres. Kendrick goaled again to make sure Leigh were off and running. Leigh: Donlan; Arkwright, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Ingram; Purtill, Patel; Street, Murray, Whittle, Cruickshank, Liku, Fairclough. Subs (all used): Costello, Jenkins, Bowker, Norman. Attendance: 1546.

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