NOT the shock of the same magnitude suffered by hapless Hull KR against Oldham but Leigh’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup exit felt every bit as painful.

Even the probability Toulouse are a far better outfit than their current League One status suggests was of little consolation.

And like Rovers, Centurions had no complaints at their disappointing fifth round defeat in south west France.

Coach Neil Jukes predicted a tough encounter against a youthful home squad and his more experienced outfit discovered that fact to their cost.

Leigh never led and were only on level terms for five minutes at the start and 10 minutes midway through the second half.

So, when full-back Mark Kheirallah kicked a 69th minute penalty there was no way back a second time for last season’s quarter-finalists.

Indeed, what a difference a year makes. Twelve months earlier Leigh dumped Super League Salford out of the competition, adding Wakefield to their top flight scalps before losing with honour at Warrington in the last eight.

So, no namecheck by John Humphrys on BBC Radio Four for the last 16 draw, only unrelenting Championship action through until July, starting with Sunday’s trip to fifth placed, Featherstone Rovers.

“Shattered with the result but Toulouse XIII were the better team,” Cory Paterson told his Twitter followers.

"Huge thanks to the travelling Leigh Centurions fans And Martyn Ridyard, who converted his two goal attempts, added on social media: “Quality from Leigh Centurions fans turning up in numbers. Sorry we didn’t get the win. Awesome support tho’”

Gareth Hock and Eze Harper were omitted from Leigh’s original 19-man squad and also lined up without Harrison Hansen, Fuifui Moimoi and Rangi Chase.

Toulouse, previous round winners over Wath Brow Hornets, were quick to build on home advantage. Aussie Johnathon Ford was the architect of the French team’s only try of the game inside five minutes.

The 26-year-old Cook Island international and former Sydney Rooster kicked over the Centurions’ defence, re-gathered and sent over front rower, Bernard Canet, to touch down. Prolific Kheirallah, League One’s leading points scorer, added the conversion.

Kheirallah also kicked one of the game’s 21 penalties and Toulouse led 8-0 at the break.

Leigh, facing their first defeat since the opening weekend of the season, hit back early in the second period. Kheirallah was guilty of a handling error and Ben Reynolds and Paterson combined to set-up Sam Hopkins.

Ridyard’s improved and then, after Leigh turned down several shots at goal, he tagged on a penalty to level the scorers at 8-8. Lewis Foster almost nudged Centurions in front but was adjudged held-up over the try line.

And it was left to Kheirallah to land the decisive penalty for the 2005 Challenge Cup semi-finalists.

Match stats: Toulouse: Kheirallah; Minga, Ader, White, Maurel; Ford, Gonzales-Trique; Canet, K Bentley, Boyer, Planas, Curran, A Bentley; Substitutes: Kriouache, Masselot, Puech, Marion.

Try: Canet (5); Goals: Kheirallah (3) Leigh: Pownall; Higson, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Reynolds; Emmitt, Higham, Weston, Whiting, Maitua, Paterson; substitutes: Foster, Spencer, Acton, Hopkins.

Try: Hopkins (44).

Goals: Ridyard (2).

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Attendance: 2,133.