KIERON Purtill blasted Leigh’s display as “disgraceful” after Featherstone took a giant step towards gaining home advantage in the Betfred Championship Shield final.

Rovers’ boss John Duffy, only named 14 players due to injuries and release of top stars due to the club’s financial plight.

But they never looked likely to lose after Josh Hardcastle set them on their way to victory with the first of his team’s four tries after 10 minutes.

Purtill, clearly furious with his team’s inept display, said: “I think saying it was a bad day at the office is being kind.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Featherstone, I thought they were outstanding.

“They turned up with 14 fully committed players. But I don’t think our guys were committed to the cause.

“Maybe we looked on the sheet and thought it would be an easy day. But as individuals we have a responsibility to get ourselves ready for the game and I don’t think we did that.

“We were disgraceful and I don’t think we would have beaten Leigh Miners Under 12’s with that performance.”

Rovers’ unexpected win, given their shortage of personnel, takes them two points clear in the Shield table with four games to go.

Leigh’s afternoon started poorly when Nathan Mason suffered a game ending shoulder injury.

Almost immediately Duffy’s side took the lead through Hardcastle’s try and Ian Hardman’s conversion.

Rhys Evans had a try disallowed for a knock on which looked a harsh call against the referee by referee Matt Rossleigh.

However, Leigh continued to fumble their way through the contest as Rovers made light of their lack of interchange options.

So, it was no surprise when John Davies spun out of a tackle to increase Rovers lead at the end of a disjointed opening quarter.

Leigh were as poor as they were at the start of the season and Rovers took advantage of back-to-back penalties to score a third try.

This time stand-off Anthony Thackeray danced inside the flailing arms of Kevin Larroyer to touch down. Hardman goaled and Leigh trailed 16-0.

The second half began with both sides reduced to 12-men with Leigh’s Ilias Bergal and Rovers’ try scorer Hardcastle yellow carded for a brawl after the half-time hooter.

Hardman pulled off try saving tackles on Greg Richards and Rhys Evans as Centurions eventually found some fluency.

Eventually the ball stuck long enough for Leigh to move the ball from one wing to the opposite flank where Matty Dawson-Jones dummied and went over after 65 minutes. Reynolds conversion attempt missed its target,

But that was as far as the comeback went. Despite relentless pressure, helped by six successive penalties in their favour, Leigh couldn’t add further points.

And it was game over when Misi Taulapapa broke away to give Matty Wildie a walk-in try two minutes from time.

Rovers: Hardman; Taulapapa, Hardcastle, Davies, Robinson; Thackeray, Wildie; Cooper, Carlile, Brooks, Farrell, Lockwood, Knowles; substitute: Maskill.

Tries: Hardcastle (10), Davies (20), Thackeray (38), Wildie (78).

Goals: Hardman 3/4.

Leigh: R. Bailey; Bergal, Dawson, Cox, Evans; Reynolds, Hutchison; Richards, Higham, Mason, Larroyer, J Walne, A.Walne; substitutes: Gregson, Johnson, Blagborough, Dezaria.

Tries: Dawson-Jones (65).

Goals: Reynolds 0/1.

Referee: Matt Rossleigh.

Half-time: 16-0.

Attendance: 2194.