LEIGH Centurions bowed out of the Challenge Cup as they made their first appearance at Leigh Sports Village for 400 days.
John Duffy’s side were defeated 36-18 by Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants in the third-round tie.
They battled to the death but had left themselves with too much to do after conceding points in the early parts of each half.
Leigh, who handed a debut to former Gold Coast Giants hooker Nathan Peats off the bench, were already facing a tall order by the time he entered the action.
Nathan Peats on debut. All pictures by Richard Walker
Huddersfield led 20-6 at that stage, with Kenny Edwards, Sam Wood and Jermaine McGilvary all crossing inside 20 minutes and Jake Wardler converting two and adding two penalty goals.
Jordan Thompson gave Leigh a bit of a hope with a 26th-minute try, converted by Ben Reynolds.
The hosts were not able to capitalise on Giants being reduced to 12 men when Luke Yates was sin-binned for a late tackle on Ryan Brierley eight minutes before half-time.
Huddersfield hung on and then struck first in the second period, McGilvary and Wood going over for their second efforts as Ian Watson’s side extended their lead to 28-6.
A Peats try from a charge down of Lee Gaskell's kick showed that the towel would not be thrown in, with Reynolds again converting.
When Thompson went over for his second improved try with 14 minutes remaining Leigh were back within 10 points.
Adam Sidlow's yellow card two minutes later came as a blow and McGilvary's hat-trick effort and one from Lee Gaskell settled matters.
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