Danny Tickle scored his 100th career try but Leigh’s landmark return to Super League after 12 years was less memorable, going down to a 44-16 defeat at Castleford.

The top flight newcomers were outscored seven tries to three with England half back Luke Gale contributing 24 points.

But a competitive opening quarter and final points flourish suggests Centurions won’t take long to get upto speed in the top division.

“Someone told me it was 4165 days since we were last in Super League,” said coach Neil Jukes after the first meeting between the teams since September 2007.

“On the back of that we ticked the box (for Super League) in September so that’s six months waiting for our first gig. And we have had a couple of months to think about Castleford.

“I wanted us to put in a good performance to get a measure of where we were at.

“That’s why we it was important we played a tough game and you won’t get much tougher than Castleford away.

“So, I suppose I’m glad to get it out of the way but not under those circumstances. I would like it to have been on a different scale.

“We need to be more consistent in those 20 minute periods when teams are getting in the grind and doing things automatically.

“I saw it a little bit in pre season trial games and a bit in training where for a period we go into our shell and we stop thinking about the structures and processes that will get us through.

“We are not saying we are going to finish top of the pile and get to the Grand Final.

“We know it will be a scrap until the end and this game has highlighted that. But we will fix it up and work as hard as we can. Slowly but surely it will be sink or swim and eventually we will swim.”

For the first 20 minutes Leigh, with Tigers’ old boys, Tickle, Ryan Hampshire and Ben Crooks in their ranks, were an equal match for a side many predict will be challenging for silverware this season.

But after the next 20 the result was almost out of sight as: Gale, Jesse Sene-Lefao, and Greg Minikin (2) touched down. Gale landed five goals as Cas led 26-0 at the break.

Junior Moors went over for a fifth converted touch down score two minutes after the re-start and at 32-0 Cas put their cue on the rack.

Tigers plundered 62 points in a National League fixture between the pair 10 years earlier. At this stage you wouldn’t have bet against them at least matching that total.

Instead, Leigh displayed commendable resolve and fitness to hit back. Full-back Hampshire celebrated as though he had won the Challenge Cup after a 43rd minute touch down.

And though Gale and Greg Eden added further tries for the home team, Matty Dawson and Tickle, plus a brace of Martyn Ridyard conversions, made sure the final score line was reasonably respectable.

Match stats Castleford: Hardaker; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden; Chase, Gale; Lynch, McShane, Springer, Sene-Lefao, McMeeken, Massey; substitutes: Millington, Moors, Cook, Roberts.

Tries: Gale (20, 58), Sene-Lefao (24), Minikin (30, 38), Moors (42), Eden (62) Goals: Gale (8/8) Leigh: Hampshire; Higson, Crooks, Brown, Dawson; Ridyard, Drinkwater; Hock, Hood, Tickle, Paterson, Stewart, Hansen; subs: Pelissier, Vea, Green, Weston.

Tries: Hampshire (43), Dawson (70), Tickle (73) Goals: Ridyard 2/3 Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham)