Tommy guns down Oldham

Only at full time was it revealed the misfortune Abram had suffered in the lead-up to the game. Two key forwards pulled out on the morning of the game, a third was pulled up lame in the warm-up and Ian Knott was injured in the first 10 minutes.

Simon Knox went down with a chest complaint, Oliver Wilkes had an upset stomach and Matt Sturm suffered a back spasm just minutes before kick off.

"A whole week's preparation was blown out of the water," Abram said. "But I've got to give credit to the lads who came in. We had to hastily change things round and then to come out with a result like that is very pleasing.

"Losing three players pre-match was bad enough, but then Ian Knott got a blow in the rubs and was coughing blood. He clearly couldn't take any further part in the game and that put further strain on the squad.

"But we showed tremendous strength of character to hold out when Oldham had us under the cosh. I was very pleased with our defence and we had enough going for us in attack to finish them off at the end."

Oldham will still probably find it hard to believe that they lost by such a wide margin. For over an hour there was little between the sides either on the field or on the scoreboard.

Even harder for Oldham to swallow was the second minute dismissal of key second rower Iain Marsh for a high shot that felled Richard Marshall.

It was certainly high but whether it warranted an instant red is another matter. Oldham boss Steve Molloy felt it should have gone on report and it's hard to disagree with that view.

Although faced with 70-odd minutes a man light, Oldham showed tremendous resilience and no little ability.

But what Leigh did have to go with their defensive solidity was Tommy Martyn. When the going got tough Martyn's passing ability got Leigh through. As well as scoring one lung-busting length of the field try himself, Martyn laid on four more with accurate wide passes.

The main beneficiary was Chris Percival on the right wing, back in action for the first time in nine weeks. When he was laid low with a knee injury Percival as Leigh's leading scorer and on his recall he showed he'd lost none of his appetite by getting in for a hat-trick.

Marsh was already in the shower when Leigh swept into a fourth minute lead thanks to a handling error from Jon Roper. The former Leigh centre lost possession, Ben Cooper made good ground and Martyn's long ball gave Percival the chance to get outside Nick Johnson and squeeze in at the corner for a 4-0 lead.

Leigh had to re-shuffle again when Knott went off and they had a lucky escape when Pat Rich raced in but put a foot on the dead ball line as he ran round trying to improve the scoring position.

Rich halved Leigh's lead with a penalty before Leigh hit back with a classic counter-punch. Danny Halliwell and Rob Smyth conjured a 70 metres break to strike into the heart of the Oldham defence where Willie Swann put in the perfect kick for Percival to slide in for his second.

Neil Turley, after two missed conversions, found his range with a 26th minute penalty to put Leigh in control at 10-2.

But Oldham were having some joy keeping play tight through the middle and it wasn't much of a shock when they levelled at 10-10. A Rich penalty was followed by a Neil Roden try who backed up well after Lee Doran had made all the running off a Lee Marsh pass. Rich converted easily.

Just when it looked as though it would stay all-square at the break, Oldahm were penalised at the play the ball and Turley kicked Leigh into a 12-10 interval lead.

Just three minutes into the second half and Martyn scored one of the most spectacular tries of his career. With Oldham threatening Leigh's line, Martyn trapped a probing kick from Ian Watson, scooped up one handed and went 90 metres to the other end.

Turley and Rich exchanged penalties and going into the final quarter it was still anybody's game.

Turley edged Leigh towards victory by opening up an eight point gap with another penalty and then began the move that brought the try that really settled it. Trapped tight on the touchline Turley managed to spring a move inside that ended with Martyn firing a pass across Cooper for Percival to sweep in for his hat-trick try. Turley's touchline conversion gave Leigh some breathing space at 26-12.

Oldham were a spent force and when Phil Farrell uncharacteristically coughed up possession 20 metres from his own line, Leigh attacked in numbers and Martyn again supplied the money ball for Cooper to score.

Two minutes from time Leigh put on a tap penalty move and Martyn's wide cut out pass found substitute Damien Munro who scored with his first and only touch of the ball.

Scorers: Leigh - Tries: Percival (4, 16, 68), Martyn (43), Cooper (74), Munro (78). Gls: Turley 6/10.

Oldham - Try: Roden (34). Gls: Rich 4/4

Leigh: Turley; Percival, Halliwell, Cooper. Smyth; Duffy, Martyn; Cruckshank, Rowley, Marshall, Larder, Potter, Knott. Subs (all used): McConnell, Swann, Munro, Isherwood.

Oldham: Goddard; Cowell, Roper, Rich, N.Johnson; L.Marsh, Watson; Southern, Hough, Morgan, Doran, I.Marsh, Farrell. Subs (all used): Roden, Barber, G.Johnson, McLoughlin.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 10, Oldham 15.

Handling errors: Leigh 10, Oldham 9.

Half time: 12-10

Full time: 36-12

Sent off: I.Marsh (Oldham) - high tackle.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).

Attendance: 1841.

Man

rPASS MASTER Tommy Martyn ripped Oldham to shreds with his range of passing. And he can tackle and kick a ball a bit as well.....

Magic

rCHRIS Percival's third try which killed off Oldham. It was a nice moment for the winger as well having been laid up for over two months with a knee injury.

Moan

rWHAT happen to the 2500 fans Leigh took to the Arriva Final? Admittedly the weather was more November than July and the holiday season is in full swing, but it was still a poor show.