Fleet coast to victory!

Despite a number of regular players not being available the assembled squad had plenty of quality along with one or two unknown quantities.

All the early exchanges had Fleet on top and the home side had only 5 minutes to wait before debutant winger Towel crashed over to make it 5-0. The forwards were making the hard yards at will very ably supported by half back pairing of Howe and Pearce, the former selling the perfect 'dummy' to scamper under the sticks to bag a try, Howe adding the extras, 12-0 up. Being starved of possession and having all the tackling to do Leigh were further punished by opposite wing Birks who showed his pace to score, again Howe nudging the conversion from out wide, 19-0. With forwards and backs combining like a well-oiled machine the figure of centre Morley was next up to score gliding through the midfield, with Howe adding the conversion, 26-0.

Half time came and the message from the manager was to go and finish Leigh off! Briefly Leigh looked to threaten but with the likes of Taziker, Barnes, Holden and Welch mounting wave after wave of forward attack it was not long before Howe neatly off-loaded for Thompson to cross the whitewash and score with a conversion added, 33-0. Like a lion rampant Fleet were showing no mercy to their battle weary opponents, Holden was next on the scoreboard and yes Howe added yet another conversion, 40-0 up. The lineout was dominated by a green and gold flanker, the other Morley twin who was taking anything coming his way, so possession and territory was all in favour of Fleet- Barnes linked well with the backs to score the next try, 45-0. The next two tries were taken by the speedy winger Birks to take the score line to 55-0. Leigh were still prepared to tackle and carry the ball forward but the hosts were not wanting to concede a single point. With the light fading along with the drizzle Thompson still had plenty in his tank as did Howe, they both combined well before allowing the hard working Taziker to smash through and score, extras added, making it 62-0. The final attack saw the giant frame of Buzza juggle the ball in centre field before he rampaged forward swatting off any would be tackler before flopping over the line to score, and just for good measure Howe added the conversion, final score 69-0.

With so many players standing out it would be fair to say everyone who pulled on the green and gold jersey performed well and did themselves proud. The forwards were totally dominant, the backs were always in control. Choosing a man of the match was therefore very difficult, however for his kicking, passing, chasing, 7 conversions and all round game it was scrum half Howe who takes the accolade. Next week a much tougher task awaits when the second team travel to high flying Bolton.

Report from Dan Jefferson