Leigh 52 Featherstone 18: Sharp endures tough start to life at Rovers

Rovers made a fantastic start and were good value for a 12-6 lead after 23 minutes.

The home side had opened the scoring through a Fuifui Moimoi try, converted by Martyn Ridyard.

But Featherstone were soon level. Centre Brad England was quickest to react to a kick ingoal, grounding the ball. Paul Sykes added the extras.

Rovers’ pressure was rewarded, Reni Maitua’s driving run doing the damage before offloading to Ian Hardman who scored by the posts. Sykes converted.

But Leigh produced a superb response, scoring four tries before half-time. Former Rovers centre Greg Worthington went in at the corner before Gregg McNally showed clever footwork to score.

A quickfire attack saw McNally and Ridyard combine to send Brierley racing clear. Ridyard converted.

Just before half-time, Leigh scored their fifth try via Brierley. Ridyard’s conversion made it 28-12 at the break.

Moimoi completed his hat-trick before Brierley claimed his hat-trick with a long-range interception try. All Rovers could offer in reply was a try 10 minutes from the end when Sykes set-up Blackmore with an infield pass. Sykes also added the extras.

Leigh ended the game with a Gareth Hock try, goaled by Jake Emmitt.

Leigh: McNally, Pownall, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay, Ridyard, Brierley, Moimoi, Beswick, Emmitt, Haggerty, Dixon, Hock. Subs: Higham, Barlow, Wilkes, Hopkins

Featherstone:Hardman, Blackmore, Sykes, England, Hitchcox, Cooke, Moore, Baldwinson, Ellis, Wood, Cording, Maitua, Spears. Subs: Cooper, Ormondroyd, Bussey, Foster

Refreee: C Kendal (RFL).