Leigh Centurions Reserves 38 York City Knights Reserves 12

Paul Anderson’s young side continued their winning start to the Reserves Championship with a seven-try victory over York at Leigh East Thursday.

After their hard-fought victory over Keighley to mark the start of their competitive campaign Anderson’s men played with enterprise and fluency to entertain the 260-strong crowd on a beautiful spring evening.

Fullback Jack Hansen and loose forward Luke Warburton were two stand-outs with the Wigan St Pats pair of Joe Prior and Brad Smith, who had both been drafted into the side giving vital direction down the middle. Jamie Tracey was the only first-team squad member to feature in the 17.

The Centurions started well with Josh Swift going over in the left corner from Tracey’s fine pass and then Sam Baggaley finished off another flowing move on the opposite flank after Hansen joined the line to good effect from a scrum move.

But York dug in and showed good defensive resolve and increasing attacking threat before Warburton increased the home lead after supporting a Prior break. When Smith finished off another fluent move Matt Pendlebury’s second goal increased the lead to 20 points. But Casey Canterbury pulled back a try for the visitors just before the interval.

Hansen grabbed the try his own efforts deserved after another Smith break within two minutes of the resumption before Peter Starling notched York’s second try of the evening in the corner.

Tom Roughley got the Centurions back on track as he crossed by the side of the posts after Warburton’s surging run set up the position for Sam Peet to supply the assist. Captain Elliot Liku completed the home side’s scoring to finish a length-of-the-field move involving long runs by Hansen and Swift, Pendlebury hitting his fifth goal.

The visitors wrapped up a fine evening’s entertainment when Brad Nicholson barged over from close range.

Leigh Centurions are next in action at the same venue next Thursday when Sheffield Eagles are the visitors (7-45pm).

Leigh Centurions Reserves: Jack Hansen (try); Josh Swift (try), Mitchell Cox, Eze Harper, Sam Baggaley (try); Matt Pendlebury (5 goals), Joe Prior; Tommy Holland, Brad Smith (try), Elliot Liku (try), Sam Peet, Jamie Tracey, Luke Warburton (try). Subs: Leighton Ratchford, Jacque Peet, Tom Roughley (try), Ethan Jukes.

HT: 20-4; Attendance: 260; Referee: L Moore.

Good solid display from an almost completely new set of players

The game is already up on LCTV and I will be watching it as soon as get home in a couple of hours.

Well done to the lads.