Try-poacher Rowley joins the 100 club

But the low-key affair did mark the re-emergence of Andy Isherwood as a back-rower with all the attributes to go right to the top.

Starting a game for the first time this season, the 24-year-old put an injury-wrecked 2003 behind him to destroy Chorley almost single-handedly Any worries that he'd not his nasty back injury would make him a lesser player have been forgotten in a matter of weeks.

Three starts off the bench in previous games brought three tries. On Sunday he managed three in one game to make him the club's outright leading try scorer.

But there was more to Isherwood's game than just posting tries. His strong running wide on the right caused Chorley problems all afternoon and when he weighed in with some uncompromising defence, he'd just about turned in the perfect performance.

But he was pushed close for the outstanding performer nomination. Injuries to props Dave Bradbury and Richard Marshall probably got Isherwood his starting spot as coach Darren Abram pressed one of his usual second rowers - Oliver Wilkes - into an emergency front row role.

And Wilkes didn't disappoint. He's hardly put a foot wrong since joining the Centurions from Keighley and although he has limited front row experience, he was still charging forward as strongly in the last minute as he had been in the first.

The victory was also a notable one for vice-captain Paul Rowley. His battle with Dave McConnell for the number nine shirt is an intriguing one but Rowley, another starting a game for the first time this season, threw down a marker with an accomplished 60 minutes before being replaced.

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bram has an embarrassment of riches in that department but Rowley's attributes, such as his sharpness away from the ruck and eye for a try, are invaluable.

His importance to the team was shown early. Supporting clever play by Neil Turley and Isherwood, Rowley scampered away for the first of Leigh's 11 tries inside six minutes.

Not only did it set the tone for the rest of the game, but it was also a major landmark for Rowley himself.

In a career stretching back 11 seasons, the try was his 100th in 321 senior games. Fifty-three of those tries have come in his two spells with Leigh.

Like Rowley, Neil Turley is another who has hit the ground running this season. His appetite for tries and goals is still as keen as ever, but he now seems to be widening his game more to create chances for others. He laid on the final pass for four tries and dropped another on a plate for David Alstead with an accurate bomb to the corner.

His goal-kicking is as accurate as ever. It was deep into the second half when his sequence of 15 consecutive successful kicks came to an end, but he did go on to finish with eight from 11.

The tries from Rowley and Alstead, plus a couple of Turley conversions, had virtually ended any Chorley interest after just 12 minutes but a combination of a referee who stubbornly refused to let the game flow and Leigh's own carelessness, meant a delay in the floodgates opening.

A chip over the top and break by Turley laid on the first of Isherwood's hat-trick and got things moving again before referee Gareth Hewer put the brakes on by disallowing tries by Turley and Wilkes, one for off-side and the other for a forward pass.

By half time Leigh had built up another head of steam and were 30-0 up. Turley and Duffy combined in the shadow the posts and got Isherwood in again and right on the hooter Duffy and Isherwood set up sub prop Mike Callan for the first of his two debut tries.

Clearly feeling that attack was the best form of defence, Chorley had Leigh rocking for a brief spell at the start of the second half with big centre Brian Capewell causing most of the damage. After starting the move in his own half, Capewell supplied the scoring pass for his skipper Chris Newall to cross and then his strong play allowed Eddie Kilgannon to get over at the corner, Capewell adding one conversion.

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andwiched between the Chorley tries, Rowley's quick thinking and equally quick tap penalty had allowed Dave Larder to stretch over and open his Leigh try account.

Having leaked two tries, Leigh set about mopping up the increasingly tiring opposition.

Turley's long ball got Isherwood in for his hat-trick and McConnell's short pass allowed Callan to charge over for his second. A 40/20 from Tommy Martyn gave Leigh the platform from where Wilkes could stretch over and claim a try he deserved as Leigh reached a half century of points for a third successive match.

If Turley's long pass for Isherwood's third was a good one, the monster cut-out ball he produced in the 69th minute to give Stave Maden a walk-in at the corner, was a real gem.

With time almost up, skipper Ian Knott produced a trademark pick-up from the back of a scrum 15 metres out, sat Anthony Murray on the seat of his pants, and rolled over the line for the final score.

SCORERS - Leigh: Tries - Rowley (6), Alstead (12), Isherwood (23, 37, 56), Callan (39, 64), Larder (48), Wilkes (67), Maden (69), Knott (80). Gls: Turley 8/11.

Chorley: Tries - Newall (42), Kilgannon (51). Gl: Capewell 1/2.

LEIGH: Turley; Alstead, Halliwell, Percival, McCully; Duffy, Martyn; Knox, Rowley, Wilkes, Larder, Isherwood, Knott. Subs (all used): Coates, McConnell, Maden, Callan.

CHORLEY: Patterson; Kilgannon, Capewell, Redford, O'Regan; Murray, Gambles; Hill, Roden, S.Smith, G.Smith, Jones, Newall. Subs (all used): Rowley, Ormisher, Parry, Alexander.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 8, Chorley 10.

Handling errors: Leigh 13, Chorley 10.

Half time: 30-0

Full time: 60-10

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven)

Attendance: 1452.

Man

rANDY Isherwood is a back rower who knows where the tryline is - and has the speed and strength to get there. On this form he could achieve anything. Pushed close though by Wilkes and Turley.

Moan

rHOW cold was that? This summer rugby lark will never catch on....

Magic

rTHAT monster cut-out pass from Turley. Winger Steve Maden won't score an easier try if he plays until he's 90.