Leigh Centurions 20 Salford 20: THIS season's battle for Super League will not be a one horse race.

All Sunday's evidence point to relegated Salford not getting as easy a ride as Huddersfield did last season in their quest to return to the elite division.

Leigh, beaten in two Grand Finals in the last three years, again proved they will pose a major threat. They dominated threequarters of yesterday's Arriva Trains National Cup tie but had to settle for a point after Salford came back from 18-4 down.

Leigh thought they had done enough to win the game and keep their 100 per cent record in the competition.

"We should have won the game," declared coach Paul Terzis. "But this game was all about putting a marker down for the future and I think we've sewn a few seeds of doubt in Salford's minds."

Salford drew first blood when prop Neil Baynes battered his way through the defences for the opening try. But Leigh went on to dominate the rest of the half. They levelled when man of the match Sean Richardson smashed his way over and should have taken the lead soon afterwards only for centre Damian Munro to spill the ball.

It was no surprise when skipper Adam Bristow did cross and John Duffy added the conversion and a penalty for a 12-4 interval lead.

Duffy looked to have claimed the decisive score in the 50th minute when he stepped his way over for another six pointer but Salford hit back with two tries in as many minutes.

Stuart Littler swooped for the first and then sent Alan Hunte in at the corner.

A Duffy penalty gave Leigh an eight point cushion but six minutes from time Littler scrambled over at the corner and Lee Marsh added the touchline conversion. Two minutes from time Phil Kendrick cost Leigh victory when he was penalised for holding down and Marsh struck the equalising penalty.