Magnificent Martyn Ridyard embarrassed his former paymasters with an all action display to leave Leigh fans wondering where their team’s next victory is coming from.

Ridyard starred in Rovers comeback that leaves Centurions with only one win from their first five games.

The one-time Leigh favourite finished with 16 points from a second half try double and four conversions.

He also had a hand in three of Rovers’ first half tries and booted a superb 40/20 for good measure.

It all added up to a frustrating afternoon for caretaker coach Keiron Purtill whose temporary charges led 28-20 with less than a quarter to go but still couldn’t hang on.

To make matters worse Ben Reynolds, recalled to the side after missing last week’s defeat by Toulouse, suffered a second half knee problem and joins Daniel Mortimer on the long-term injury list.

Little wonder ‘Fev’ boss John Duffy was quick to praise Ridyard’s contribution.

“Martyn came back to prove a point and he proved a point,” smiled Duffy, another ex-Leigh favourite. “Like a few of us have.

“I’m really pleased for Martyn. He looked a bit nervous before the game because he is usually the life and soul of the dressing room. But some of his plays and executions were superb.”

Disappointed Purtill, taking temporary charge after Neil Jukes’ resignation, admitted: “We are putting pressure back on ourselves by not backing up a positive with a positive.

“Our steel on our try line defence is not good enough and at times we gave up too easily.

“There was a lot of effort but it’s having that steel not to give up too easily.”

On Ridyard, Purtill said:” He is a smart footballer. He probably came back with a point to prove and he proved it.

“You have got to give him the plaudits on that one. Defensively, we didn’t handle him well enough.

“But we will look more on what we did this week rather than what Riddy did.”

And there’s plenty of work ahead before Sunday’s game at Halifax. Even a try scoring debut for winger Rhys Evans, Micky Higham’s comeback at the age of 37 and a superb ‘lead by example’ display from Harrison Hansen couldn’t mask the short comings.

Leigh have now lost three of their four home games and sit just four places above bottom spot. Not exactly the platform to launch a bid for Super League status.

They conceded seven tries to the Yorkshire part-timers, only scoring 10 points in the second half after leading 20-10 at the break.

Ex Warrington star Evans, Crooks (2) and Bodene Thompson touched down in the opening 40 minutes with Luke Briscoe, Shaun Robinson and Connor Farrell replying for the visitors.

Full-back Ian Hardman missed three of his four shots at goal before Ridyard took over at the tee otherwise the final margin of defeat could have been even greater.

Ridyard’s first try and conversion after 52 minutes brought Rovers level at 20-all only for Matty Dawson-Jones and Crooks-to complete his hat-trick-to put Leigh back in control.

Ridyard’s second try and conversion reduced Leigh’s advantage to 28-26 before Hall booted a penalty.

Rovers weren’t finished and Mitch Clark and then Briscoe in the final minute, plus two further Ridyard convictions, sealed the visitors’ victory.

Match stats

Leigh:

Hall; Dawson-Jones, Crooks, Matautia, Evans; Reynolds, Hutchison; Richards, Hood, Hansen, Patrick, B Thompson, J Thompson; substitutes: Higham, Vaivai, Acton, Larroyer.

Tries: Evans (8), Crooks (17, 31, 61), B Thompson (28), Dawson-Jones (55)

Goals: Reynolds 0/1, Hall 3/6

Featherstone:

Hardman; Briscoe, Hardcastle, Thackeray, Robinson; Ridyard, Holmes; Clark, Carlile, Oledzki, Farrell, Mariano, Knowles; substitutes: Wildie, Hock, Ormondroyd, Brooks.

Tries: Briscoe (3, 78), Robinson (20), Farrell (25), Ridyard (52, 66), Clark (73)

Goals: Hardman 1/4, Ridyard 4/4

Half-time: 20-14

Referee: Chris Kendall

Attendance: 3,594