Not far off there Vikingman. I was in Benidorm on holiday for the Widnes v Leigh game and we caught the first half on a internet update on the very old Gary Austin website in the days of prehistoric WAP. We couldn't 'watch' the 2nd half as we were all so nervous. The scenes can be only described as legendary when the Lift Door pinged and 'The Nudge' walked out the lift on the 8th Floor of the L'evantalux and starting singing! Class! Can't argue with those other two either, particuarly the Leeds game. It was legendary.

I was there at Hunslet, can't quite remember whether that was in the days of Colin Whitfield or not but we lost and we never had an opportunity to stake a claim to go up. With hindsight it might have been a good thing.

Good thread son.

That away Leigh game stood in the pouring rain, terrible game, we lost, and more importantly the game was nothing more than thuggery. Smithy got his arms pinned back by two of their players whilst another punched him repeatedly square in the face. Still one of the most cowardly things I've ever seen on a rugby league pitch. I recall the leythers bigging up how Smith was owed a beating before the match and the players obviously set out beforehand to give him one.

Wasn't it the Bibey's and James Taylor, Chris? Seems to ring a bell.

Another one was hammering Leigh at their place on a Good Friday a few years back.

Think it was actually Rowley, to be honest.


My favourite Boxing Day memory misses out by less than a week - Micky Higham scoring a 60 yarder within 2 minutes of his debut in the 1999/2000 season against your lot at HP - could tell from that moment the lad had summat about him. Think that was the day there were flares in the crowds etc, absolutely mental.

Best
Beating warrington away (the first team to do so at the halliwell) with royale with an excellet display

Beating Bradford at home in the 2nd round of super league, (Craigie with his backflips)

And Hull away, to secure our place in super league with cas going down

Worst

Franchise day
Warrington relegating us
And generally the last year of super league were most teams used to put 50 on us

The opening night in Super League versus Saints would also be up there, that night was magic even though we just got beat (if only scarts would have held that interception)

Give it a rest, I don't mind you bringing this incident up ,but why go into graphic detail every time.I can guarantee you not one Leigh fan supported what Rowley did.

Anyone who knows anything about rugby knows that any deliberate premeditated violence against another player always happens in the first quarter, or seconds if your names Morley.

I could give loads of incidences of "thuggery" from Widnes players over the years,The Hulmes were the worst offenders at coming in 3rd man in a tackle with both knees or fists.

All the Leigh lads got big bans and I'm sure over the years Smith has more than made up for the punches he got in that match, even you must admit he is far from a saint.

We're talking about memories. I.e. things in the past. That is one of the worst memories of rugby league. By all means bring in some thuggery by the hulme brothers, on another thread on topic on your own board. I'll get you started. Paul Hulme was once sent off for gouging.

You made a statement I responded, in a not too biased way, I thought these threads were meant to have feedback.I mentioned the long retired Hulmes as a dig at the fact that you will still bring the Smith incident up in many years time,but as you say the thread is about memories so fair enough.

As a side issue now that Leigh have no noted dirty players in their team, will Widnes fans still accuse us of being a team of thugs next season or allow the new clean open rugby team that we will be, an even break.

Unfortunately I couldn't be at that infamous game at Leyth. Does anyone know where I might be able to get a copy of that game from?

I'd like to make my own observations and maybe dredge the past up .

Seriously if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd be grateful.

Cheers mate, much appreciated.

Talk about a de-rail.

I remember another peice of thuggery by leigh in 2006 i think it was then biby headbutted hulse of the ball