▁rugby ▁league ▁( RL ) ▁for ▁Wales , ▁and ▁at ▁club ▁level ▁for ▁Hal if ax , ▁Le igh ▁and ▁D ew s bury . ▁ ▁In ▁Memory ▁Of ▁Les ▁Pear ce : ▁An ▁Ob itu ary ▁By ▁Mike ▁L ath am ▁By ▁AP ▁- ▁ 2 3 rd ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 8 1 0 6 ▁ ▁Les ▁was ▁coach ▁of ▁Le igh ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁and ▁ste ered ▁the ▁side ▁to ▁a ▁famous ▁victory ▁over ▁W id nes ▁in ▁the ▁BBC 2 ▁Flo od lit ▁Tro phy ▁Final ▁at ▁Central ▁Park ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 7 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁season ▁he ▁o vers aw ▁a ▁march ▁to ▁the ▁Challenge ▁Cup ▁semi - final ▁and ▁a ▁controvers ial ▁defeat ▁against ▁Fe ather stone ▁Ro vers ▁at ▁He ading ley . ▁ ▁A ▁passion ate ▁Wel sh man ▁from ▁Sw anse a , ▁Les ▁came ▁north ▁to ▁sign ▁for ▁Hal if ax ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁and ▁played ▁for ▁the ▁Th rum ▁Hall ers ▁for ▁a ▁de cade . ▁He ▁continued ▁to ▁live ▁in ▁the ▁town ▁after ▁his ▁playing ▁career ▁was ▁over . ▁ ▁He ▁co ached ▁both ▁D ew s bury ▁and ▁Hal if ax ▁before ▁coming ▁to ▁Hil ton ▁Park ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁making ▁his ▁reputation ▁as ▁‘ F ax ▁beat ▁W ake field ▁in ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁John ▁Player ▁Tro phy ▁Final ▁in ▁January ▁of ▁that ▁year . ▁ ▁Les ▁joined ▁Le igh