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THE team with the best defence and best attack in the NFP produced both elements by the bucket-load to re-assert their claims as the outstanding team in the division.

Leigh's unexpected defeat at Doncaster the previous week perhaps put a few doubts in a few minds. But we needn't have worried.

The real Centurions stood up and were counted at Cougar Park.

First against second produced a full-blooded clash that was worth eight quid of anybody's money. Nobody could complain about being short-changed as both sides gave it everything they'd got from first minute to last.

Defensively Leigh were back to their mean best after last weeks uncharacteristic slip-ups. Just six points conceded at Cougar Park is a remarkable achievement in anybody's book.

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K, they had a few hair-raising moments - particularly when Keighley targeted Michael Watts' wing - but they toughed it out and restricted the Cougars to isolated line breaks.

Coach Paul Terzis sprung something of a surprise when he named Willie Swann at scrum-half for the first time in a league game. The Samoan international rewarded him with a magnificent effort that saw him clock up 27 tackles as well as being a central figure in the Centurions' attacking plays.

Alongside Swann in the hard work stakes was joint skipper Adam Bristow who logged 35 tackles and must have covered every inch of Cougar Park. Then when Leigh needed midfield penetration they were able to turn to the likes of Dave Bradbury who relentlessly carried his team forward.

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eigh will admit that they were helped when Cougars' play-maker, scrum-half Nathan Antonik, was stretchered off with damaged ankle ligaments after only the third tackle of the match. That only compounded Keighley's half-back problem with Martin Wood badly damaging his knee the week before.

But it did give ex-Wigan and Hull star Craig Murdock the chance to show what he can do. But so tight was Leigh's defence, he was given little opportunity to inflict much damage.

Early Leigh pressure should have brought it's reward but Paul Anderson missed one good chance and shortly afterwards they wasted a 3-1 overlap after Andy Fairclough's powerful surge had taken them back within striking distance.

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eighley appeared to single out Watts' flank as their best attacking option and they almost drew first blood when Jason Ramshaw's angled kick to the corner bounced kindly for the Centurions as Jason Lee closed in for a try. Moments later Dave Ingram was forced to knock the ball dead ahead of the on-rushing Craig Horne.

The mounting Cougar pressure finally brought dividends in the 16th minute when Murdock's inside ball found Danny Seal at full pace, the loose-forward bouncing out of a Simon Baldwin and Dave Whittle tackle to dive in under the posts. Graeme Hallas added the easy extras for a 6-0 lead.

But Leigh's patience and perseverance paid off as they laid siege to the Keighley line. Simon Svabic was held up on his back after a dummy and a dive but Leigh kept the pressure on from the resulting scrum and when Watts cut infield off the right wing it unsettled the Cougars' defence sufficiently for impressive hooker John Hamilton to burrow through a forest of legs and touchdown at the foot of the posts. Svabic levelled at 6-6.

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hat was Hamilton's final involvement until the second half but his replacement, John Duffy, set up the crucial second try in the dying moments of the half. Running across the face of the defence, Duffy and Bristow cleverly picked out Baldwin in space, the second rower throwing a dummy and then charging over from five metres for a 10-6 interval lead.

Baldwin's strong running down the left channel was always a threat and nine minutes into the second half he was instrumental in creating Leigh's third try. Bristow started the ball rolling with a magical low pick-up when a pass went astray. Svabic carried play on and Baldwin's surge and inside pass found the supporting Neil Turley who shot over and round to the posts for his 29th touchdown of the season. Svabic's second goal made it 16-6.

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eigh never really looked back after that despite Keighley throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at them in a desperate attempt to get back into the game. But once Leigh had bottled up Murdock, their attacking plays were too one dimensional and were adequately dealt with by a Leigh side that scented another famous victory.

Leigh thought they had increased their lead on the hour when sub Liam Bretherton went in at the corner but referee Peter Taberner ruled a forward pass.

The Centurions were clearly in no mood to let this one slip away and even in the dying seconds they were defending their own line as though their lives depended on it.

LEIGH: Turley; Ingram, Anderson, Fairclough, Watts; Svabic, Swann; Leathem, Hamilton, Whittle, Baldwin, Bristow, Morley. Subs: Kendrick (for Morley 56), Bradbury (for Whittle 25), Bretherton (for Fairclough 36), Duffy (for Hamilton 28), Whittle (for Leathem 63), Hamilton (for Duffy 73).

COUGARS: Rushforth; Horne, Powell, Hallas, Lee; Smith, Antonik; Slicker, Ramshaw, Boothroyd; Harrison, Hughes, Seal. Subs: Walker (for Ramshaw 41BB), Murdock (for Antonik 2), Stephenson (for Boothroyd 35), Leatham (for Slicker 33), Ramshaw (for Walker 46BBR), Walker (for Smith 56), Slicker (for Stephenson 63).

SCORERS: Leigh - Tries: Hamilton, Baldwin, Turley. Gls: Svabic (2). Keighley - Try: Seal. Gl: Hallas.

PENALTIES AWARDED: Leigh 5, Keighley 5.

SCRUMS: Leigh 5, Keighley 15.

REFEREE: Peter Taberner (Wigan).

ATTENDANCE: 3727.