IT'S not taken Leigh long to establish their title credentials.

Just two games into the new season and Leigh look like the team they have to beat.

Once Leigh had built a bridgehead they went on to show a huge gulf in class between themselves and Rochdale Hornets, winning comfortably 42-14.

Paul Anderson and Simon Baldwin did untold damage with their wide running and young Mick Higham enhanced his growing reputation with two sparking tries. But the real architect of an impressive victory was skipper Craig Dean.

His full range of skills ripped Hornets to shreds as he scored one try and played a major role in four others.

A fully fit Craig Dean is like Leigh making another top signing.

"He missed most of last year with a serious ankle injury," said coach Ian Millward. "He is still not quite there with his concentration for the full 80 minutes, but he is getting better every week and you could say he is our biggest close season signing."

Dean's inch-perfect sparked the romp; Anderson made a half break and David Ingram's inside pass found the welcome arms of Dean who nipped in for the opening try.

Graeme Close, who struggled with his kicking the previous week, landed the first of six from six.

In the minutes leading up to half-time Rochdale fell apart. Dean's pass, Donlan's break and Anderson's finish brought Leigh a second try while Hornet's winger Lee Hudson committed the cardinal sin of losing possession in front of his own posts under pressure from Cruickshank, and a grateful Andy Fairclough slipped between the uprights.

Ex-Leigh centre Scott Martin gave Hornets a glimmer of hope with an injury-time touchdown, but within eight minutes of the restart Adam Bristow and Dean had combined to get Higham racing away to make it 24-6.

Just after the hour Dean's disguised pass sent Higham under the posts before Ingram claimed the first of his couple; the first from the game's best move and the second from Dean's astute kick, the last try converted by Paul Wingfield.

LEIGH: Donlan; Cross, Purtill, Anderson, Ingram; Close, Dean; Street, Murray, Cruickshank, Baldwin, Bristow, Fairclough. Subs: Higham, Bowker, Whittle, Wingfield. Attendance: 2,112.

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