ST HELENS 17, LEIGH CENTURIONS 16: LEIGH Centurions issued a clear statement of intent that they may not be the easybeats of Super League X.

Favourites to drop back into the National Leagues after their debut Super League season, the Centurions came within seconds of pulling off a highly-creditable draw at Knowsley Road on Boxing Day.

It needed a last minute field goal from Saints half-back Scott Moore to send his hometown team to a defeat they did not deserve.

Assistant coach Tommy Martyn chose to mix and match his team with a handful of last season's regulars, a few new signings and the cream of the club's Academy. Saints, too, had a below-strength team on show but even they must have been in a state of shock when Leigh ripped into a 12-0 lead inside the first eight minutes with two smartly taken tries from winger Rob Smyth, both goaled by Neil Turley.

Smyth was denied a hat-trick by the corner flag as Leigh, through John Duffy, Jason Ferris and Marc Leafa took the game to Saints.

Leigh defended stoutly and kept Saints tryless for the first 40 minutes.

But with Leafa in the sin-bin Saints made full use of their extra man and were soon level with tries from Miles Greenwood and ex-Bradford prop Paul Anderson, on his debut.

Ferris, Duffy and James Taylor created an opening out wide just before the hour and Leigh's new centre Rob Jackson went in for a 16-12 lead.

Mike Bennett's 72nd minute try levelled the scores at 16-16 and a draw looked on the cards until Moore popped over his late winner to spare Saints' blushes.