Leigh Centurions 54 Hull KR 4 by Mike Hulme: WHAT a difference a week makes! Just seven days after being blitzed by Salford, Leigh rediscovered the sort of form that could ultimately take them into Super League.

All they've got to do now is reproduce it in the big games!

Their 10-try demolition of Rovers showed Leigh's powers of recovery. Seven days previously they were dispirited and downhearted after being well beaten by Salford yet by Sunday they'd recovered to the point of putting on one of their most complete displays of the campaign.

That was a point not lost on head coach Paul Terzis. "One of the most pleasing aspects was our desire to wipe out the memory of the Salford defeat. I think our strength of character and self-belief shone through today."

How right he was. This was the real Leigh. The Leigh that on it's day is capable of destroying any side at this level.

Rovers, with three wins in a row behind them, hardly knew what hit them as Leigh paraded their full range of attacking skills as well as soaking up all the opposition could throw at them with some punishing defence.

"When we turn up the heat we're a hard team to handle and it doesn't matter who we play against," said Terzis.

O

pposite number Steve Linnane didn't disagree. "Leigh were way, way too good for us. They are the best team we've played this season."

It took less than three minutes for Leigh to make their mark - thanks to Rovers' generosity. Try poacher Damian Munro seized on misplaced Rovers pass, collected at head height and sped 50 metres to the posts. Neil Turley, back after injury, added the first of his five goals for a 6-0 lead.

Leigh doubled their lead not long afterwards following Lynton Stott's badly miscued penalty attempt. Hitting the ball at pace, John Duffy showed all the footwork of Fred Astair to wrong-foot three defenders to stretch over at the base of the posts to give Turley another regulation conversion.

Such was Leigh's domination that they didn't make a handling error until the second quarter and only fumbled twice in the entire first half. On the back of such a high completion rate playmakers Duffy and Pat Weisner had a field day, repeatedly ripping the Roves defence apart.

Leigh's support play was of the highest quality and on the back of a good kick and chase game, Rovers were hopelessly outclassed.

Turley broke the opposition defence again with a kick and regather, Adam Bristow and Phil Kendrick carried it on and Leroy Rivett eased in at the corner.

The winger's second try came just six minutes later thanks to neat inter-play by Bristow, Bradbury and Duffy before Kendrick delivered the money ball. Turley's touchline goal made it 22-0.

J

ust before the break Leigh added another six points to their total. Swift handling and close support play took them half the length of the field, Turley was cut down in full cry by Jon Aston but the alert Bristow picked up from dummy half and plunged under the posts.

Rovers had their chances either side of half time but, correctly, were pulled back for earlier infringements. Anthony Seibold had one try disallowed after Rovers had knocked on earlier in the play and Alisdair McClaren had another wiped out after putting a foot in touch.

Seconds after McClaren's misfortune Leigh had gone the full length of the pitch and scored themselves. Bryan Henare, who had one of best games in Leigh colours, galloped 70 metres before ushering Weisner in at the corner for a 32-0 lead.

That quickly became 38-0 when, from a tap penalty, Leigh whipped the ball through seven pairs of hands for Munro to stride in for his 23rd of the season.

Leigh's concentration wavered slightly when young sub Lee Sanderson was stretchered off and taken to hospital. A couple of missed tackles wide out allowed Aston to barge his way over for a consolation try.

In the final 10 minutes Leigh underlined just what sort of punishment they are capable of dishing out.

Rivett collected a Rovers kick almost on his own line, exploded through the defensive line and once in the clear had enough pace to keep ahead of a pursuing Stott to complete his hat-trick.

With Rovers in complete disarray, Leigh headed for their biggest-ever win against the Humbersiders when Duffy scrambled across the line for his second. Just before the end Weisner, who added to Turley's five goals with two of his own, Bristow and Henare did the damage to get Hull-born Dale Holdstock in for a try against the club his father, Roy, served with distinction.

Match Facts

SCORERS

Leigh: Tries: Rivett (25,31,70); Munro (4,49); Duffy (16,74); Bristow (36); Weisner (42); Holdstock (78). Gls: Turley 5/7, Weisner 2/3.

Rovers: Try: Aston.

Leigh: Turley; Alstead, Munro, Kendrick, Rivett; Weisner, Swann; Nickle, Duffy, Ball, Richardson, Henare, Bristow. Subs used: Norman, Sanderson, Holdstock, Bradbury.

Rovers: Stott; D.Wilson, Blanchard, Farrell, McClaren; Cooke, Tawhai; R.Wilson, Aston, Howard, Seibold, Bovill, Smith. Subs used: Aizue, Anderson, Pickering, Fletcher.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 6, Rovers 6.

Handling errors: Leigh 10, HKR 8.

Half time: 28-0

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan)

Attendance: 2363.

Man

rTHERE was one outstanding performer in a team of outstanding performers. John Duffy was magnificent all afternoon. Sheer quality.

moan

rTHE sight of Lee Sanderson being stretchered off in obvious pain. It put a dampener on an otherwise sweet afternoon.

magic

rSPOILED for choice but for my money Rivett's first try was trademark Leigh. Inventive, explosive and a finish with a flourish.