Leigh Centurions 16 Warrington Wolves 28

5:29pm Sunday 20th April 2008

WOLVES never looked in danger of bowing out of the Challenge Cup in the fourth round but they were far from convincing against part-time National League One neighbours Leigh.

With Leigh moving into a new stadium next season it was fitting that Wolves bode farewell to Hilton Park with their first ever win there in the Challenge Cup.

But the second-half performance on Sunday will have done little to improve the mood among the sections of disheartened supporters following three previous league defeats.

Wolves appeared to be cruising through when they led 16-0 at half time.

Anyone who thought that the second half would then be about floodgates opening and tries aplenty had to think again as Wolves returned to their bad habits.

The knock ons and needless penalties that have blighted displays of late came back to haunt Paul Cullen's men and Leigh's confidence grew.

Wolves hardly touched the ball for the opening 13 minutes of the second half and had to defend for their lives, which explains why Wolves looked a little tired in the last few minutes as Leigh crossed for two tries.

When Ian Watson converted his own try in the 44th minute and reduced the deficit to 16-6, Wolves needed to be on their best behaviour because the next try scored would be crucial.

But Matt King's knock on and a high tackle from Chris Riley paved the way for Leigh to blitz Wolves' try line. Wolves were forced into three goal-line drop outs but defended their line magnificently.

Then it was time once again for Lee Briers, playing for the first time since Wolves' last win at Castleford, to remind everyone of his influence on the team.

It was his short drop out that was salvaged by Vinnie Anderson to end Leigh's monopoly of possession.

At the end of the set it was Briers' grubber kick that forced Leigh into a drop out of their own.

And it was his hands that started the ball rolling for the crucial Kevin Penny 58th-minute try that put Wolves 22-6 clear and settled the nerves.

Briers had also played a major part in the two opening tries of the first half.

Vinnie Anderson also showed his class over the 80 minutes, driving in like a prop, supporting like a hooker and producing some silky handling like a half back, while tackling devilishly too.

Jon Clarke kept busy at hooker and then in the back row, looking dangerous when running from dummy half.

Riley took his first try of the season well and did not appear to put a foot wrong, and Louis Anderson's aggression gave Leigh something extra to think about when the tension grew early in the second half.

They were the stand-out performers but Wolves will need many more of them when St Helens come to town tomorrow, Friday.

Match facts.

Leigh Centurions 16 Warrington Wolves 28.

Centurions: Dennis Moran; Dave Alstead, Mark Roberts, Adam Rudd (1t), Chris Giles; Lee Marsh, Ian Watson (1t, 2g); Mike Morrison (1t), Dave McConnell, Gareth Price, Lee Doran, Mike Wainwright, Jimmy Taylor. Subs used: Adam Thomas, Chris Hill, Kyle Neal, Andy Hobson.

Wolves: Chris Hicks (1t, 4g); Chris Riley (1t), Martin Gleeson, Matt King, Kevin Penny (1t); Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan, Rob Parker, Jon Clarke (1t), Paul Rauhihi (1t), Ben Westwood, Louis Anderson, Vinnie Anderson. Subs used: Mark Gleeson, Ben Harrison, Andy Bracek, Adam Neal.

Referee: Steve Ganson.

Scoring: Briers scoots clear and sends Clarke over, 8mins, Hicks converts, 0-6; Vinnie Anderson, Monaghan and Briers swing the ball wide for Riley to touch down despite attention from Giles, 30mins, 0-10; Hicks burrows over from Harrison's quick play-the-ball, 38mins, Hicks converts, 0-16; Watson regathers his own grubber that had been partially blocked by Briers and touches down in Westwood's tackle, 44mins, Watson knocks over the extras, 6-16; Briers, Monaghan and Louis Anderson fire the ball wide for Penny to cross unopposed, 58mins, Hicks lands the goal from the touchline, 6-22; Rauhihi powers over from Vinnie Anderson's inside pass, 73mins, Hicks improves the try, 6-28; Morrison supports Doran's dart and accepts the offload to score from close range, 78mins, Watson tags on the goal, 12-28; Rudd receives Moran's feed and defies Riley's challenge to dive over in the corner, 81mins, Watson converts, 16-28.

Pens: Centurions 10 Wolves 9.

Scrums: Centurions 6 Wolves 4.

Attendance: 4,273.

Warrington Guardian top men: Vinnie Anderson 3pts, Briers 2pts, Clarke 1pt.

Interesting note: Opening try scorer Clarke was captain of Warrington Wolves for the first time.