Derek has now issued a statement in response to the allegations:
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... er-8667440
Leigh Centurions boss Derek Beaumont has verbally roasted Championship rivals Bradford Bulls.
Beaumont has gone on the offensive after being angered by some comments he claims were made both before and after Sunday’s game that attracted a record 7,449 crowd.
Beaumont told MEN Sport: ’’It is always disappointing when club officials and employees lower themselves to the level of criticising their opponents or the referee in defeat.
‘‘Sport is frustrating but sometimes it takes strong individuals to look in the mirror and accept they were beaten by the better team on the day.’’
Leigh won 36-24 and star signing Fuifui Moimoi played his part in the on-field battering of the Bullls.
But while Beaumont, a lifelong Leigh fan and successful local businessman, was delighted with the victory, he was clearly somewhat disappointed with the visitors’ attitude hence his firm reaction.
He adds: ‘‘I have been somewhat amused by the comments of Bradford coach James Lowes and some of the Bradford players in recent press articles I have had brought to my attention.
‘‘We keep a close eye on our opponents and their press.
‘‘It has been interesting to look at Bradford press cuttings since last December.
‘‘They actually wrote our team talk for us - none more so than Steve Ferres, the managing director of the Bradford Bulls who when looking forward to the challenge facing his team named every club but Leigh.
‘‘That omission came back and bit him firmly on the rear on Sunday.
‘‘It was certainly a big show from our forwards at LSV.
‘‘To claim and suggest we resorted to tactics expected from a Championship club is disrespectful to the quality of the Kingstone Press Championship.
‘‘Correct me if I am wrong was wasn’t it the Bradford player who started to punch Gregg McNally (Leigh) in the face?
‘‘In the end, class always shows through and this was evident with the quality of the tries we scored and then confirmed in the respective coaches’ post match interviews.
‘‘While Lowes slated highly rated young championship referee of the year Joe Cobb, Paul Rowley, the Leigh coach, showed his class and composure by stating he had been given a difficult day made more difficult by both sides.
‘‘Bradford should not feel embarrassed by losing to us.
‘‘We beat a strong Wigan side in pre season.
‘‘We are a quality side with a top drawer professional coach leading a very passionate young group of players.
‘‘It is not a disgrace to come undone by that.
‘‘I feel Bradford will need to show more respect to this competition than they did at Leigh.
Beaumont has admitted emotions were running high at the weekend.
Six players were sin-binned but the fans were treated to a full-blooded contest for the full 80 minutes.
Beaumont and fellow Leigh officials have been studying the context media reports on the game from sources both close to Leigh and in those Yorkshire with strong allegiances to the Bulls.
The Leigh boss goes on to say: ‘‘I supposed they (Bradford) had to have one win on the day and I am happy for that to be them goading me while we took the two points.
‘‘I do not wish to be drawn on the situation and it is currently under investigation other than to say I have never been treated in such a manner in my life let alone during my time in rugby league.
‘‘I rose to the bait. I should be better than that and I apologise to anbody who witnessed that as it is not my persona.
‘‘We are conducting our own investigation into the significant number of complaints we have received from spectator and media personnel, in particular over events that occurred in the so-called sterile area outside the changing rooms.
‘‘We will make these findings available to the Rugby Football League and we are confident they will act accordingly.’’
