Featherstone Rovers 6 Leigh 40: Centurions march on at the top as Featherstone slump to defeat

In a repeat of their 40-4 home trouncing against Bradford Bulls earlier this month, part-timers Rovers were comprehensively outplayed by full-time opponents.

Rovers, whose four defeats against Leigh last season included the Championship Grand Final, competed superbly in the first-half to lead 6-4 at half-time but their defence was ripped to shreds in the second period.

Liam Kay and Tom Armstrong each scored two tries as leaders Leigh maintained their 100 per cent record this season with their 14th straight win, a run that stretches back to last July.

Rovers coach Andy Hay said: “Our energy and desire was there in the first-half.

“But in the second-half we totally went away from that.”

Leigh went ahead when Ryan Brierley, Greg McNally and Tom Armstrong sent in Kay.

Rovers hit back when substitute Andy Bostock, with his first touch, made a great run that led to Nathan Chappell scoring a 29th-minute try that Paul Sykes goaled but it all went wrong for Featherstone after half-time.

They failed to deal wth Martyn Ridyard’s kick downfield and Kay hacked the ball on for Armstrong to score.

Jy Hitchcox and Alex Foster foiled Ridyard with a superb double tackle at the try line but shortly afterwards Tommy Goulden went over.

Kurt Haggerty then forced his way tthrough to score before Ridyard and Haggerty set up Armstrong’s second.

Michael Platt finished the best move of the game as Leigh turned in the style.

Kay crossed for his second and Brierley completed the rout with a length of field interception try.

Featherstone Rovers: Sharp; Hitchcox, Chappell, Sykes, Johnstone; Marginet, Irwin; Baldwinson, Ellis, Wood, Cording, Foster, Spears. Substitutes: Teasdale, Bostock, James, Tonks.

Leigh Centurions: McNally; Pownall, Platt, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley, Moimoi, Penkywicz, Acton, Haggerty, Goulden, Barlow. Substitutes: Beswick, Wilkes, Hopkins, Emmitt.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (Warrington).