LEIGH fans who boycotted Sunday's match missed nothing . . . and probably achieved nothing.

The tiny group of frustrated supporters who stood outside in protest might have made their point.

But the only ones to really suffer are the players who are going through a crisis of confidence.

What the team needs more than anything is vocal support and encouragement. Catcalls and boycotts are only likely to make matters worse.

Crowds of a measly 935 - the season's lowest at Hilton Park - will only compound the problems.

Low crowds mean no cash for team recruitment; poor team performances mean low crowds. The vicious circle is complete.

Yet the brave souls who stuck it out to the bitter end deserve better than another resounding defeat, Featherstone firing in at 48-16.

It's time for the team to stand up and be counted. Passion and effort will get the majority of fans back 'on side'. Surrender will only fuel the discontent on the terraces.

If the players need a lead they should look to Tim Street.

Back after a two-match ban, he almost single-handedly took the game to Rovers. Co-prop Andy Pucill gave him good support and there were solid performances from centres Phil Kendrick and Alan Hadcroft.

Sadly, the rest were largely anonymous as Rovers edged the first half 14-6 and than rammed home their superiority in the second.

Featherstone coach Steve Simms, back at Hilton Park for the first time since he left almost four years ago, could hardly believe his luck as Leigh, with the leakiest defence in the division, completely collapsed.

Down 14-0 inside the first quarter, the writing was already on the wall.

Even 18 successive tackles on the Rovers line produced nothing as Leigh, their confidence low, simply ran out of ideas.

Street took took it on himself, battering over at the corner and Paul Wingfield knocked over a penalty; Leigh were back in the match. But that was as good as it got.

By 49 minutes it was 32-6 and Leigh were on a damage limitation exercise. They failed!

Leigh's only bright moments came with tries for Wingfield and John Gunning.

LEIGH: Hill; Wingfield, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Ingram; Arkwright, Donohue; Street, Murray, Pucill, Costello, Liku, Geritas. Subs: Donlan, Gunning, Norman, Conway.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.