Leigh Centurions 4 Huddersfield 37 By Mike Hulme

ONLY those with long memories will recall the last time a Leigh team was so outclassed.

But with the league campaign now shutting down for two months while the National League Cup takes place, the Centurions will have a long time to reflect on this mauling.

It wasn't the defeat that shocked Leigh so much as the magnitude of Huddersfield's victory.

Coach Paul Terzis pointed to Huddersfield being able to retain their players on a full-time basis following relegation from Super League as the major factor.

"Of course it's an advantage to them," he said. "I wish I could spend as much time with my players as Tony Smith can.

"We can only admire Huddersfield today. They've put down the yardstick for us all to follow.

"It must be said that we contributed to our own downfall with wrong options both in attack and defence. But it was an excellent side that put so many points past us."

The warning signs were there for Leigh early on as Huddersfield eased into an 8-0 lead with a try from Erol Crabtree and two Steve McNamara goals.

The Giants held their lead until the 32nd minute when Simon Baldwin charged down McNamara's attempted clearance kick and dribbled the loose ball 40 metres to score.

But by half time the Giants had stretched their lead to 12-4 with a Darren Turner try.

Leigh could find no way through a superbly marshalled Giants defence and when Crabtree went over for his second and the outstanding Chris Thorman shot 60 metres for a solo try, Leigh's resolve crumbled.

Leigh's nightmare continued when a wayward pass was snapped up by Graeme Hallas who coasted in from 30 metres.

More trouble followed when prop Gareth Price was red-carded for punching Hallas with five minutes to go.

The Giants made their extra man tell, Stanley Gene bursting up the touchline to send Hallas clear to the posts for another six-pointer.