Leigh Centurions 19

Barrow Border Raiders 8

LEIGH finally got out of the NFP starting blocks a week late and cantered to victory without too much bother.

Although it needed a late drop goal and try from Simon Svabic, Leigh didn't really look like losing this one despite the closeness of the scores.

Torrential rain and a sticky pitch hindered Leigh's usual free-flowing style but they showed they had the sense to change the game-plan and grind out a result.

"It wasn't a day for the fancy stuff," coach Paul Terzis pointed out. "I was satisfied with our performance, and particularly pleased with the way we defended. Barrow only broke our defensive line twice all afternoon."

With seven new faces in the squad it's not surprising that Leigh were a little disjointed at times but the likes of Svabic, John Hamilton, Neil Turley and Dave Bradbury showed enough to suggest that this team is going to get better and better.

While Leigh's defence was the ultimate key to success, they also showed that when they put it together in attack, there are few sides that can live with them.

Their opening try came soon after Svabic had landed a fourth minute penalty. The stand-off's cut-out pass did the damage as winger Alan Hadcroft carried it on and the supporting Andy Fairclough scored Leigh's first four-pointer of the season.

Svabic converted and although Darren Holt pulled two points back for Barrow, another Svabic penalty stretched Leigh's lead to 10-2.

Six minutes into the second half and Leigh were rocked back on their heels when Mike Whitehead broke the Centurions' defence and he held off Adam Bristow for a converted try at the side of the posts.

But it didn't take the home side too long to re-assert their authority with Paul Anderson coming back inside on an angled run and scattering the Barrow defence to make it 14-8.

Svabic calmed Leigh's nerves with a sweetly executed 74th minute drop goal to take Leigh two scores clear and the stand-off wrapped it up with a last minute try in the corner.

Leigh: Turley, Hadcroft, Anderson, Fairclough, Ingram, Svabic, Duffy, Street, Roden, Norman, Kendrick, Baldwin, Bristow. Subs: (all played) Morley, Bradbury, Leathem, Hamilton. Att: 2488.