LEIGH'S hopes of a top four finish all but evaporated in the heat of a The Shay as Halifax were allowed to run rampant to leave the Centurions a distant second best.

The expected shoot-out turned into a procession for the hosts, yet despite what eventually became a long and painful afternoon for the Centurions loyal but increasingly restless support, they had the first cheer of the day when Dave McConnell's kick was fluffed by former Leigh winger Lee Greenwood and Danny Halliwell touched down. Aaron Heremaia converted but that was as close as the game got as for the next 25 minutes the Centurions chased shadows, made mistakes and conceded penalties.

All this gave possession and field position to the hosts and in clinical style they turned a six point deficit into a 36-6 advantage.

First, Graham Holroyd fed ex-Centurion Dave Larder. He broke through on the left and touched down under the posts. The white and blue avalanche had started.

On 13 minutes, Holroyd was again architect with a low kick that bamboozled Chris Giles and Damian Ball swept in to ground. Three minutes later Leigh looked to have contained Halifax within their forty metre zone with two defenders applying kick pressure to Holroyd but the wily campaigner found Sean Penkywicz and in a flash he was into an opening, linking with Greenwood down the left before Sam Hoare supported to score.

By the end of the first quarter Fax scored their fourth try with a flowing forward move from a tap involving Hoare, Frank Watene and Ball before Phil Joseph grounded. The nearest Leigh came to the Halifax line was in the 23rd minute when Chris Hough was clattered by Penkywicz on the last tackle.

Further Fax tries followed by Watene and Paul Smith before James Taylor saw a touchdown over-ruled. From their next possession though, the Centurions did give their fans something to cheer when Heremaia missed a man out and Mailangi Styles charged over near the posts.

Gareth Pemberton then ran clean through the Fax line but Royston closed in.

As the half-time hooter sounded Leigh were guilty of clocking off and paid the ultimate price when another electric burst from Penkywicz was supported by Shad Royston for Halifax's seventh try.

Well out of the contest at 42-12, Leigh conceded the first try of the second half with Larder scoring his second of the game. Debutant Tom Woodcock then went close to opening his Leigh try account but the youngster saw his touchdown over-ruled after Leroy Rivett contested possession.

Lee Greenwood then sailed in at the corner from a Holroyd pass before Anthony Stewart was sinbinned for holding down Lee Patterson after the Fax winger burst 40 metres downfield.

Immediately, Halifax made their advantage count with Ian Watson reversing a pass for Smith to claim his second try.

Leigh then replied with a couple of tries of their own - both down to the inspiration of Miles Greenwood who started the game on the wing and then moved to stand-off with good effect.

First Greenwood and Pemberton combined before Sean Richardson was able to twist and spin his way to the line after 57 minutes and when Greenwood's evasive footwork and support skills brought a 13th try of the season, Heremaia made it 22-58 with the conversion.

Halifax finished strongly however with two more tries. Shad Royston scored first, chiming into the line to perfection from forty metres before Lee Greenwood applied an expert finish three minutes from the end. The final tries allowed veteran stand-off Holroyd to kick his 10th goal of a one-sided contest and condemn the Centurions to an eighth National League defeat.