I would suggest you watch the game again and see what effect bringing Bob on in the first half has.
Bob on at 23rd minute. Leigh score 2 mins later, architect is Bob Beswick after going blind to initiate the break, then going blind from the base of the scrum to send Armstrong over.
Rovers then get a try from a kick and you'd expect a surge of momentum to come.
Beswick tackles everything that moves (as does every Leigh player by the way) and the tide is stemmed.
Leigh appear to score again but are denied by the width of a blade of grass and the video ref.
Leigh continue to push and Fev give away the penalty for a 20-6 lead at half time.
In my opinion bringing bob on continued a dominant half for Leigh and set us in a strong enough points position to withstand what was always going to be a difficult period in the earlier minutes of the second half as a good side came at us with a do or die cup final effort. Two tries with Penky on, and two tries (all be it one not given) and a penalty with Bob on.
Second half more of the same but we gave away (or are hit with) a series of 6 penalties to help Rovers start strong. Even then we had good breaks and had another try disallowed. Fev reply with a superb try from Sharp but Leigh then soak up everything Fev have left with the help of Bob Beswicks tireless defense. Bob actually makes the first 3 tackles in a row from Fevs next possession.
It's tight and physical and a fresh Penky comes on to run at a now tired Fev who have given everything but not had enough to get past the solid defense of Leigh, led by Bob. Leigh score a brilliant try from Higson immediately. Penky is only on for 5-6 minutes before he is carded with 11 mins left. A tired Bob Beswick comes on and sets up Sam Barlow with a brilliant little pump dummy from the base of the play the ball that draws in two and gives Sam a one on one that he dances through. We then go on and dominate the rest of the match,score two more tries and one penalty with him back on, and finish in style.
Points wise we score three tries each with Bob and Penky on but we edge it with Bob on, with two penalty kicks.
As said already, PR has done this all season and coaches must have a hell of a time preparing their team to play the two very different but equally unstoppable styles that will come at them in the same game. PR got it dead right for me starting Penky, but also got it equally right with the timing of his interchanges between him and Bob. The points scored with each on and the final score would support my opinion I think.
Each to their own opinion but for me Bob was one of our best players. Penky also played a blinder though
And PR got it bang on all ways round
