Featherstone Rovers 28 Leigh Centurions 22 by Mike Hulme

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O matter at what stage it comes, a Challenge Cup defeat is never easy to take.

But when you've under-performed and then compounded the problem with a suspect temperament, it's all the more unpalatable.

No wonder coach Paul Terzis was grim faced when emerged from Leigh's dressing room minutes after seeing his side dumped from the competition.

"We're proud of our achievements in the Challenge Cup in recent years," he said. "But we can't be proud of that today. We played some dumb football out there and there are a lot of people who've got to answer a lot of questions."

Terzis pin-pointed his team's poor defence, poor discipline and referee Russell Smith's performance as the three reasons for Leigh's defeat.

"Our discipline wasn't good enough, the referee's performance wasn't good enough and we defended better with 11 men than we did with 13. Credit to Featherstone, they played very well at times but we contributed to how well they performed."

Super League whistler Smith was the central figure in a match littered with 26 penalties and six yellow cards. Skipper Adam Bristow had the rare distinction of being sin-binned twice in the second half - both for technical offences - and he was joined by Damian Munro (dissent) and Dave Bradbury (punching) from the Leigh side. Carl Briggs (dissent) and Richard Chapman (punching) were Rovers' offenders.

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mith clearly decided that he was going to police the RL's new rule changes and interpretations to the letter.

Both Leigh and Rovers struggled to come to terms with the changes. As a consequence, far too much time was spent between players and referee arguing over the new rules and new interpretations. It all added up to a petulant and spiteful second half in which Leigh were as much to blame as Rovers.

While Terzis admits that his side's ill-discipline was a factor on Sunday, he doesn't feel it is a major concern. "But it is something we have to address and address quickly," he acknowledged.

Despite a bright and forceful opening, the Centurions had their pride dented in the middle section of the game in which Rovers were in complete command and built up a 28-8 lead. Only in the final 10 minutes did Leigh show what they can do, scoring three tries back-to-back to at least give the final scoreline a degree of respectability.

Without the injured Neil Turley, Leigh have a goalkicking problem that needs solving. Lee Sanderson missed four from seven while Pat Weisner hit an upright from directly in front. In the final shake-up the missed kicks were crucial but Leigh's biggest problems were ineffective defensive work and a laboured attack.

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n Munro and Cardoza - three tries between them again - Leigh have to potent strike weapons. But they need more running chances and until Leigh sort out their midfield playmakers, the centre pair and their wingers will be frustrated bystanders.

Leigh started well enough and all seemed well in the world when Weisner's long cut-out pass found Munro and the centre - who spent part of last season on loan with Rovers - grounded out wide. Sanderson, who had already missed one presentable penalty shot, failed with the conversion.

The warning signs were there for Leigh when Rovers levelled in the 11th minute; Chapman putting a low kick through Leigh's defence for Ian Brown to pick up and score.

That was the first of three tries in nine minutes which pulled the rug from under Leigh's feet. Moments later atrociously slack defence up the middle allowed Chapman to break free and send Danny Seal striding for the line. And when Seal slipped a pass out of a two man tackle, unmarked winger Jamie Stokes was able to walk in for another. Stuart Dickens added two goals and in no time Rovers were 16-4 ahead.

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anderson pegged four points back with two penalties but Weisner missed a sitter just before the break.

Rovers effectively won the game in the first four minutes of the second half when Briggs landed a field goal, Dickens put over a penalty after the first of Bristow's dismissals and Seal stormed in with Leigh's rearguard at sixes and sevens.

At 25-8 down Leigh were as good as out. As the game degenerated into a series of penalties and yellow cards, Rovers stretched their lead to 28-8 with a Dickens penalty and second Briggs field goal.

When Leigh belatedly got their act together, they looked a force and three times in the last 10 minutes they crossed the Rovers line. Cardoza scattered two defenders to scramble over for the first, full-back Dave Alstead dived through Adrian Flynn's tackle to chalk up the second and in stoppage time Duffy hit Munro with a short ball and the centre was in again. Sanderson added one conversion.

It made for a close finish, but it was hardly a fair reflection after what had gone before.

Match facts

SCORERS

Leigh - Tries: Munro (4 mins, 80); Cardoza (70); Alstead 74. Gls: Sanderson 4/7, Weisner 0/1.

Rovers - Tries: Brown (11), Seal (17, 44), Stokes (20). Gls: Dickens 5/6.

TEAMS

Leigh: Alstead; watts, Munro, Cardoza, Hadcroft; Weisner, Sanderson; Nickle, Rowley, Bradbury, Richardson, Kendrick, Bristow. Subs used: Holdstock, Duffy, Blackwood, Ball.

Rovers: Graham; Stokes, O'Mera, Brown, Flynn; Agar, Briggs; Molyneux, Chapman, Dickens, Dooler, Rice, Seal. Subs used: McNally, Bailey, Tonks, Jowitt.

Sin-bins: Leigh - Bristow (interference), Bristow (dissent), Munro (dissent), Bradbury (punching).

Rovers - Briggs (dissent), Chapman (punching).

Penalties conceded: Leigh 13, Rovers 13.

Handling errors: Leigh 4, Rovers 4.

Half time: 8-16.

Attendance: 2257.

Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford).

Magic

rNOT many in a game Leigh will quickly want to forget. But Michael Watts' acrobatic catch of a deep kick to his own tryline was an indication of what a vastly improved and confident player he's returned to the club as.

Moan

rRUSSELL Smith's strict policing didn't help but Leigh's major downfall was their sloppy defence and consequential poor discipline when their frustrations boiled over.

rWINGERS Watts and Hadcroft did all that was expected with limited possession; Bradbury carried Leigh forward until blotting his copybook late on but Leigh really needed more like Sonny Nickle who was punishing in defence and a handful going forward.