LEIGH CENTURIONS 22, HULL FC 22: Furious Leigh Centurions say a huge gaffe from referee Steve Ganson cost them a crucial second Super League victory.

Dejected coach Darren Abram claimed referee Ganson even came into the Leigh dressing room at the end of the game and apologised for his mistake.

"That's little consolation for us," Abram said. "That one decision cost us a point. I've expressed my views to the match commissioner and hopefully he will now take it forward."

With less than two minutes to play and Leigh ahead 22-18, Paul Rowley drilled a low kick into touch on Hull's line. But Mr Ganson somehow overruled his touch judge and instead of awarding a scrum, ordered a turnover. With a few plays Hull's Richard Horne had broken the line and Nathan Blacklock had scored the equalising try.

"The worst part about it is that match official admits he was wrong but then turns round to my players and says 'what does it matter anyway?', says Abram. "It matters that we are professional people and that decisions could be the one that sends us down and bring unemployment to a lot of people come September.

"It's very difficult to take after the lads had given so much effort and after we'd struggled all week to get a team together."

Tries from Richard Whiting, Shane McMenemy and Kirk Yeaman catapulted Hull into an 18-0 lead early on but by half time Leigh had cut the deficit to just six points.

A copybook tackle from Taylor forced Shaun Briscoe to cough up possession, giving Leigh position from where Rob Jackson could spin out of a couple of tackles to touchdown for a try goaled from the sideline by Owen.

John Wilshere, playing at stand-off for the first time in his career, rolled a kick behind the Hull defence and winger Steve Maden came up with another try again goaled by Owen.

Mark Leafa managed to get himself sin-binned and placed on report twice for late challenges but despite their numerical disadvantage Leigh put together their best move of the match to give Maden his second try.

Leigh didn't let up and hit the front just before the hour when Duffy again kicked to the corner and Rob Smyth pounced. The Centurions stretched their lead in the 64th minute when Owen landed a penalty.

They looked likely to hang on until Mr Ganson's mistake let Hull off the hook and Horne produced a midfield counter-attack that ended with Blacklock snatching an unlikely point.

Leigh: Owen (7); Smyth (6), Jackson (6), Cooper (6), Maden (7); Wilshere (9), Duffy (7); Sturm (7), Rowley (7), Fleary (7), Leafa (6), Stapleton (8), Knott (8). Subs used: Marshall (6), King (6), Taylor (8), McCurrie (6).

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).

Attendance: 3,427