There has long been a belief that Leigh, Bradford or even both could challenge for promotion to Super League this season. Given how the sport is collectively going into an unknown with its new league structure no one knows what to expect when the qualifiers roll around next month.
But if any of Super League’s bottom four were watching this battle between the Championship’s two heavyweights, they will have realised Leigh and Bradford are capable of upsetting the odds when they meet in the middle eight to decide who takes the four places in Super League for 2016.
They have come from different paths to reach this point; Leigh are the great entertainers who have become the dominant force outside Super League in the last two years while Bradford are the fallen giants. Nine years ago they were champions of the world, yet now find themselves looking to get back into Super League at the first attempt after relegation last year.
However, the rugby they both produced served as a stark reminder that the Super League teams will not have it their own way. Rightly they could not be split; six tries and six goals each made for plenty of points and plenty of entertainment – and a point that moves Leigh closer to confirming top spot before the split.
“We got away with a draw today,” said their coach, Paul Rowley. “We’re not jumping through hoops as we looked a bit flat. But it was a great advert for Championship rugby and I think some of our Super League neighbours would have looked on quite enviously at what both teams produced.”
It is hard to argue with Rowley; the biggest attendance of the season in the Championship by some distance helped to boost the growing sense of expectation.
“They’re two clubs that should be in Super League when you look at this sort of crowd,” said the Bradford coach, James Lowes. “They’ve [Leigh] a great travelling support and the turnout from Bradford fans is fantastic. They come in plenty of numbers and so did they today, so credit to both sets of supporters. Our effort there was fantastic.”
No side held a lead greater than eight points at any point of the match, illustrating how closely matched these two sides are. Bradford led 20-12 at the break after tries for Jay Pitts and two for Omari Caro on his home debut but Leigh roared back after the restart to take the lead.
Tries for Greg Worthington and the prolific Ryan Brierley turned 20-12 into 24-20 in favour of Leigh, sparking a half of tit-for-tat rugby; Danny Addy then restored Bradford’s lead with a well-worked solo try before Leigh hit back again when Jonny Pownall scored his second of the afternoon.
The home side, without their first-choice half-backs Lee Gaskell and Jake Mullaney, kept toiling away and when Ryan Shaw converted Matty Blythe’s try to make it 32-30 the home side held the advantage again.
However, Pownall completed his hat-trick by intercepting an Addy pass before Caro completed his own hat-trick to make it 36-36. Leigh tried to snatch it late on but Martyn Ridyard’s drop-goal attempt was charged down. A draw was undoubtedly the fair result. As far as whetting the appetite for the qualifiers goes, this was some marker.
Bradford Shaw; Williams, Blythe, Henry, Caro; Purtell, Addy; Clough, O’Brien, Sidlow, Olbison, Pitts, Walker.
Interchange Walshaw, Lauaki, Crossley, Mendeika.
Tries Pitts, Caro 3, Addy, Blythe. Goals Shaw 6.
Leigh McNally; Pownall, Worthington, Armstrong, Higson; Ridyard, Brierley; Moimoi, Beswick, Hock, Dixon, Goulden, Emmitt.
Interchange Barlow, Spencer, Hopkins, Higham
Tries Hock, Pownall 3, Worthington, Brierley. Goals Ridyard 6.
Referee J Child. Attendance 9,181
