Leigh Centurions v. Salford City Reds preview

By Matt Lawton
July 5 2003

The two "Red Armies" of Leigh and Salford descend on Rochdale Hornets' Spotland Stadium tomorrow for what is a mammoth encounter as the two sides battle it out for the Arriva Trains Cup and a £10,000 cheque for the winners.

Organisers are confident of a crowd of at least 5,000 for the final between the two local rivals, with no other games taking place featuring National League sides. Leigh have sold upwards of 2,300 tickets, with many more Leythers paying on the gate, which is the preferred method for the bulk of Salford's support.

The City Reds, relegated from Super League only last year, are the clear favourites, mainly due to their lack of injuries and full time status, although the Centurions fancy their chances despite only being a part time side and being ravaged by injuries to key players.

Two of those key players, record breaking full back Neil Turley and England international hooker Paul Rowley, are both confident of running out for their home-town team at Spotland, although Rowley faces a fitness test after breaking his hand in the victory away at Dewsbury only two weeks ago.

Turley is still troubled with a back injury which has plagued him since early last season, although he came through an hour of last weekend's 54-4 home victory over Hull Kingston Rovers without any problems.

Rowley is so desperate to play in tomorrow's game that he is prepared to take injections to numb the pain for the eighty minutes, and possible thirty more, of hard-hitting action.

Former Warrington Wolves centre Dale Cardoza, who prior to missing four games in a row had scored eleven tries in sixteen games, should return to the side after missing three games through suspension and then failing a fitness test prior to last weekend's game with Hull KR. He is back in contention along with veteran winger Alan Hadcroft, who has been out of action for several weeks with a dislocated toe.

Young local-born scrum half Lee Sanderson suffered a dislocated hip and torn hamstring in that victory and will be missing for tomorrow's game, as well as being out of action for several more weeks. Also missing is former St Helens stand off Tommy Martyn, who although having his cast removed from his broken arm on Wednesday, is a fortnight away from being match-fit and still has to wait to follow in both his father's and uncle's footsteps in running out for his home town club.

Salford have a full strength side to choose from, with only two long-term injuries, including one to Neil Lowe, keeping players off the sidelines.

If you have any good-luck messages for the Leigh lads prior to the final, you can email the club via commercialsales@leighrl.co.uk and your message will be passed on to the team.