TOP try poacher David Ingram is out of Leigh's march towards Wembley and the start of their league campaign.

Stand-off Ingram, who has an astonishing record of 35 tries in just 37 senior games, was carried off with an ankle injury midway through Leigh's Plate success over Swinton on Sunday.

Now X-rays have confirmed Leigh's worst fears; he has chipped a bone and there may also be another fracture.

"As far as the fracture goes the X-ray was inconclusive but he'll have more done in a day or two when the swelling has gone down," says chairman Mick Higgins.

Initial estimates of Ingram's absence range from four to six weeks, ruling him out of a Plate semi-final place on March 23 should Leigh beat Whitehaven in Sunday's quarter-final.

Leigh are happy with the draw that pits them against another First Division club.

"All you can ask for at this stage of a cup competition is a home tie, and that's exactly what we've got," adds Higgins.

"We proved against Swinton that we can live with First Division sides. Whitehaven will be the ones doing all the worrying."

Leigh have arranged an Alliance friendly with Swinton at Hilton Park on Wednesday, February 26.

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