IT doesn't take a rocket scientist to see just why a fully fit Craig Dean is crucial to the Centurions. Scrum-half Dean was in dazzling form at Craven Park yesterday as Leigh cruised to a fourth successive Northern Ford Premiership victory.

Dean came up with two tries himself and had a hand in several others as Leigh dented Barrow's impressive home record for the second time in six weeks.

And all that's on one leg!

Dean is still playing with an ankle injury that could collapse at any time and put him out for the season. But Leigh are keen to make hay while Dean's sun shines. "We know the risks involved," says coach Ian Millward. "But Craig's shown no discomfort in three games so far and, finger's crossed, he can get through the season.

"Today was a big game for him. In his two previous comeback games I just wanted him to ease himself back into it but today I wanted him to attack the defence and put his foot on the pedal. I'm pleased to say he did that and we looked a real quality team on attack."

Nobody will argue with Millward on that score as Leigh rattled up eight tries, had two more disallowed and bombed a handful of other chances.

But the way the defence leaked four tries will be a worry. Millward agrees: "Our defensive work wasn't good enough. We know we can defend better than that.

"But the pleasing thing was that twice in the game we backed ourselves into a corner by letting in soft tries, yet were able to recover and come out with a vital win."

As Millward says, not many teams will go to Craven Park and score 40 points or more.

Leigh had 16 of those points on the board inside the first quarter after Darren Holt had kicked Barrow into an early lead.

Dean's chip over the tryline brought a try for Stuart Donlan; Dean scored himself after good approach work from Jamie Kennedy and Saf Patel and then Dean's raking pass sent Tau Liku charging clear from 35 metres. Dean Purtill added two goals and Leigh looked home and dry at 16-2. But by half time the game was back in the melting pot as Dave Whittle's wild pass in front of his own posts let Chris Massey in for a gift six-pointer and Holt followed it up with a penalty.

Leigh opened up clear daylight when Purtill's long break set up the chance for Anthony Murray to burst clear for the first of his two tries. Murray was fouled as he touched down and Purtill turned it into an eight-point try.

Soon afterwards Dean smuggled out a short ball and Kennedy, having his best game in Leigh colours, spun away from a defender and galloped 30 metres to the corner to make it 28-10. Yet in a five minute spell Leigh gave away soft tries to Jamie Marshall and Geoff Luxon, both goaled by Holt, to leave them only six points ahead at 28-22.

But once the attack had hit the gas again, any doubts were quickly removed.

Andy Fairclough topped another fine game by beating three defenders and going in for his seventh try of the season, Dean charged over for his second and then turned provider again to get Murray across to make it 44-22. Leigh clearly thought they'd done enough and switched off in defence to allow Dave Warwick an injury time touchdown.

LEIGH: Donlan; Wingfield, Ingram, Kendrick, Purtill D; Patel, Dean; Street, Murray, Whittle, Liku, Kennedy, Fairclough. Subs (all used) Arkwright, Pucill, Bowker, Cruickshank. Attendance: 1,261.

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