Despite uneven second half, Toronto Wolfpack extend winning streak to 15

TORONTO — Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley, leaning on an exercise bike inside Lamport Stadium, was seen scowling at a screen Saturday in the wake of Toronto’s 46-28 win over the Leigh Centurions.

Given Rowley has not spoken to the media in a week, it’s hard to know what had brought out Mr. Grumpy. But chances are it had something to do with a tepid second-half performance that saw his team outscored 28-22.

League-leading Toronto (17-1-1) still extended its rugby league win streak to 15 straight matches in the second-tier Betfred Championship. But it was an incomplete performance.

The Wolfpack seemed in control in the first half, running up a 24-0 lead in steamy conditions before an announced crowd of 6,884. After Leigh (12-7-0) scored a try early in the second half, Toronto replied with three straight tries.

It looked liked normal service had resumed. But Leigh, taking advantage of some ragged defence, reeled off four straight tries to cut the lead to 40-28 before Toronto closed but the scoring with one final try.

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“We weren’t happy with certain things at halftime even though the scoreline reflected that we were probably on top,” said Toronto assistant coach Simon Finnigan. “The second half was completely different. We didn’t start the second half well at all. I think we gave three penalties away straight away … It sort of spiralled out of control from there.

“Good start, disappointing end, but two points.”

Rowley, a former Leigh player and coach, stayed in the background leading up to the game —the latest chapter in the Wolfpack-Centurions rivalry.

Leigh’s 28-26 loss to Toronto in May sparked several flashpoints with a halftime tunnel confrontation, a postgame coaching melee and an altercation at the team bus that briefly drew the interest of Lancashire Police. The incident is still being investigated by the Rugby Football League, the sport’s governing body.

Toronto won 34-12 at Leigh in the season opener in February.

But Leigh arrived in fine form, having won 11 of its last 12 league matches with the lone blemish the loss to Toronto in May.

Saturday’s game was played under an extreme heat alert with temperatures at kickoff 4:30 p.m. local time reported at 32 Celsius — and feeling like 42. A breeze helped but it was a gruelling afternoon for players on artificial turf and both teams made their share of mistakes, prompting a string of scrums.

A reminders to stay hydrated seemed to be followed in the beer gardens at both end of the venue. There were frequent water breaks on the pitch.

Blake Wallace scored three tries for Toronto. Matty Russell and Andy Ackers had two apiece with Liam Kay adding a single.

Taking over the kicking from Ryan Brierley, Gareth O’Brien kicked six conversions — one hit a passing streetcar on King Street while another bounced off the hood of a white SUV in the parking lot — and a penalty.

Ben Crooks and Daniel Mortimer each had two tries for Leigh with a single going to Kyle Lovett. Ben Reynolds kicked four conversions.

The game saw three yellow cards — to Toronto’s Jake Emmitt and Cory Paterson and Leigh’s Greg Richards.

“Very tough conditions to play in,” said Leigh coach Kieron Purtill. “We got caught a bit cold that first half. We didn’t give a real good account of ourselves. We got in at halftime, we spoke of not giving in as a group and putting a performance up.

“We’ve got a lot of travelling fans who came over today and have been fantastic. We showed a bit of grit that second half.”

League-leading Toronto had more muscle and creativity in the first half than Leigh. Wallace led the way in the back, scoring one try on a beautiful show-and-go that froze the Leigh defence.

The Wolfpack lost Greg Worthington in the first half to a blow to the head with the Toronto physio having to chase the centre around the pitch to convince him to leave the field. Worthington did not return. 

As they did last season in the third-tier League 1, the Wolfpack have dominated play in the Betfred Championship. They have not lost in league play since a 47-16 loss at the at London Broncos on Feb. 25.

Toronto’s all-time record now stands at 41-4-2 in league and Cup play over two seasons. It has yet to lose at Lamport Stadium.

The Wolfpack have plenty of ties to the Centurions.

Rowley’s father Allan, now a Toronto consultant, served as a player, assistant coach and CEO at Leigh.

Former Centurions now wearing Wolfpack colours include Bob Beswick, Brierley, Andrew Dixon (suspended for Saturday’s game), Emmitt, Adam Higson, Sam Hopkins, Kay, Paterson, Nick Rawsthorne, Richard Whiting and Greg Worthington.

Toronto’s James Laithwaite and Jonny Pownall, also ex-Leigh players, are currently out on loan with other teams.

Former Toronto captain Craig Hall and Ryan Bailey, cut by Toronto earlier this year after a training camp transgression, did not make the trip with Leigh.

Toronto was without the injured Higson, Bussey, Ashton Sims and Gary Wheeler. Josh McCrone returned to Australia for the birth of his child.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press