Leigh 20 South Wales 23

By MIKE HULME

ERIC Hughes has now seen at first hand the problems that cost Ian Lucas his Leigh coaching job.

Hughes' losing start to his Hilton Park reign was just as depressing as those with Lucas at the helm. A performance riddled with basic errors saw Leigh fumble and finally stumble to a last-minute defeat that leaves them well adrift near the foot of the table.

Hughes was furious that Leigh had allowed a matchwinning position to slip through their fingers after leading 20-17 with just two minutes left.

Leigh should have had the points in the bag when Alan Mason skipped round the full back to collect his second try of the game but, with time running out, South Wales grabbed the winner. Poor sets of six tackles in attack and defence ended with former Wales Rugby Union Under 21 prop James Alvis crashing in from close range.

Mason, more than most, had done his best to rouse Leigh after they had fallen 7-0 behind just before half time.

Winger Shaun Marshall had powered in early on to give South Wales the lead before a Mike Healey penalty and an Anthony Hatton drop goal extended their advantage. Leigh got it back to 6-7 at half time with Jimmy Veikoso doing all the spade work for Paul Daniel's fourth try of the season.

The second of Dean Purtill's four goals early in the second half put Leigh ahead for the first time.

But each time Leigh got in front they quickly handed the initiative back to South Wales. Neil Kelly made it 8-13 before a solo try from Mason again had Leigh in front.

Andy Currier caught Leigh out again as the lead changed hands and just when Mason's second try looked as though it was going to prove to be crucial, the home defence caved in again to allow Alvis in for his soft winner.

LEIGH: O'Loughlin, Hill, Hadcroft, Veikoso, Purtill, Mason (Ingram 73), Quigley, McGughan (Grainey 28), Bannister, Cain, Daniel, Ball, Lyon. Subs not used: Fletcher and Liku. Att: 1090.

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