Leigh Centurions 42 Hull KR 12 by Mike Hulme: FOR the third time in four years Leigh Centurions are within 80 minutes of Super League.

And perhaps this year they will overcome the final hurdle and claim a place among the game's elite.

But whether they will or not may not entirely be in their own hands.

Salford will have something to say about it of course, but Leigh's biggest post-match concerns surrounded the impending disciplinary hearings for Paul Rowley and Ricky Bibey as well as a stack of injuries, including one to star half-back Tommy Martyn.

It all prompted Alex Murphy to quip: "Quite a few of our lads will need to go to midnight mass this week!"

Murphy knows he might need some divine intervention to end the hoodoo that has seen Leigh lose both their two previous Grand Finals as well as falling five times in six meetings with Salford this season.

"If we're to get one over on Salford we need all our big guns out there and firing," Murphy said. "At this stage who plays and who doesn't is all in the lap of the gods."

The player they would miss most is Paul Rowley. The hooker's constant probing from dummy half, explosive running and tireless work-rate made him a clear man of the match performer in a team that hardly put a foot wrong in a decisive first half.

Leigh had the game won with five first half tries as Rovers' brittle defence belied their recent run of form which saw them win seven in a row.

Leigh's latest pummelling of Rovers again prompted coach Steve Linnane to say: "I've said it before, but Leigh are the best team in the competition. Leigh have produced two tremendous displays against us this season and if they can back up and do it again, they can take Salford."

Leigh's performance will have given the watching Karl Harrison and Steve Simms something to think about. The hard part now will be re-producing it on a bigger stage at Widnes next Sunday.

They will need an explosive start similar to the one that blew Rovers out of the water.

The tone was set in the opening seconds when Tommy Martyn's bell-ringer forced Jamie Bovill to cough up possession, Rovers ran off-side and Neil Turley kicked Leigh into a 2-0 lead.

Rowley's vision and quick thinking helped set up the first two tries in the 11th and 17th minutes. His cut-out pass put Willie Swann through a gap and after a quick play the ball, the impressive Danny Halliwell forced his way over out wide.

Minutes later Rowley's quick tap caught Rovers on the hop. Leigh moved the ball the full width and Adam Bristow's lobbed pass got Leroy Rivett in at the corner. Turley's touchline goal and a penalty soon afterwards had Leigh cruising at 14-0.

The only hiccup came soon afterwards when Rovers' most dangerous attacker, the much-travelled Paul Mansson, managed to ghost past Pat Weisner and glide through to the line for Rovers only first half points.

Normal service was resumed when Sonny Nickle got his arms free in heavy traffic and put Turley away and he in turn put Weisner in from close range.

Leigh were running red hot again and twice more before half time they shredded the Rovers defence. Halliwell beat marker Craig Poucher all ends up, making 30 metres before Rivett took over and finished under the posts.

By half time Weisner had put sub Dave Bradbury over and another Turley goal made it 32-4.

Martyn missed the entire second half as he nursed a bruised leg but despite a marked improvement in Rovers' play, Leigh were never in any danger of throwing away their big lead.

Rovers' indiscretions allowed Turley to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a couple of penalties but with the game firmly in their pockets, Leigh did just enough to keep Rovers at arms' length.

Hull increased the pressure and were finally rewarded when Poucher's flat pass picked out centre partner Paul Parker and he slipped in for a try.

Ten minutes from time Rovers broke Leigh on the opposite flank, Nick Pinkney sending Alasdair McClarron in at the flag.

Just when it seemed as though Leigh would go the entire half without scoring a try, Rivett sliced through Rovers' midfield defence to give the supporting Damian Munro the chance to race clear for his 32nd try of the season. Lee Sanderson added the extras.

So Leigh have made it to the altar again. In just a few days we'll know if they are coming back as brides or bridesmaids.

SCORERS - Leigh: Tries - Halliwell (11), Rivett (17, 28), Weisner (26), Bradbury (35), Munro (80). Gls: Turley 8/9, Sanderson 1/1.

Hull KR: Tries - Mansson (24), Parker (64), McClarron (70). Gls: Stott 0/3.

Leigh: Turley; Monro, Hadcroft, Halliwell, Rivett; Weisner, Martyn; Nickle, Rowley, Norman, Richardson, Bristow, Swann. Subs (all used): Bradbury, Sanderson, Holdstock, Bibey.

Rovers: Stott; Farrell, Parker, Poucher, McClarron; Mansson, Tawhai; Wilson, Ellis, Bovill, Seibold, Aston, Busby. Subs (all used): Pinkney, Andrews, Aizure, Fletcher.

Handling errors: Leigh 10, Rovers 12.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 12, Rovers 11.

Half-time: 32-4.

Sin-bin: Rivett (42mins) interference.

On report: Aston (swinging arm).

Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford).

Attendance: 4116.

Moan

THE unruly behaviour of a section of Rovers fans who pelted Leigh players from the terraces and later refused to return match balls to the field of play after Turley penalty kicks.

Man

SEEMINGLY determined to put the previous week's indescretion behind him, Paul Rowley played his heart out in guiding Leigh into the Grand Final.

Magic

SEAN Richardson's stunning cover tackle on runaway winger Craig Farrell with the game already decided was an indication of Leigh's character.