HULL 30, LEIGH CENTURIONS 16: Centurions believe they can conquer Hull and reach the semi-final of the Challenge Cup despite losing the Super League match-up at KC Stadium on Friday night (June 17).

The Centurions clung on to the coat-tails of John Kear's men until the 55-minute mark before being swept aside by the mastery of stand-off Paul Cooke and blistering finishing of hat-trick hero Nathan Blacklock.

Leigh were pinned back immediately and the pressure told three minutes later when Cooke's pass to the left fringe cut out two and gave Richie Barnett a walk in. Rather than await the expected avalanche though, the visitors struck back to level at 6-6, Steve Maden intercepting Chris Chester's woeful pass and sprinting 60 metres.

Chester was fortunate not to see red six minutes later though after flattening Rob Jackson with a high shot and ending the centre's participation in the game. The incident was instead placed on report and Neil Turley booted the first of two penalties to give Leigh an 8-6 lead.

Still, Hull looked threatening and they would lead 16-10 at the break courtesy of a Barnett replica try wide on the left and Nathan Blacklock's score beneath the posts. Leigh grafted hard after the interval but Cooke pedalled the hosts to third place with a sublime grubber kick for Blacklock's second and then, a fine delayed pass to supply his third beside the uprights.

"Cookey's shown some excellent skill for a few of the tries, but the rest were down to us," conceded Leigh coach Darren Abram.

"But I'm proud of the way we kept going in the face of adversity having only had 14 lads at training on Thursday. If we take the positives and work for the rest ahead of the cup game here next Saturday, we'll relish it and give ourselves a shout of making the semis," he added.