Leigh Centurions 6, Halifax 18: Centurions boss Darren Shaw did not hold back after seeing his side crash to their second successive National League One defeat.

A bitterly disappointed Shaw said: "A lot of the players need to be a lot smarter. We had enough possession and field position to win the game but we were too dumb with the ball in our hands.

"That game was there for the taking and yet again we've not had the creativity or patience to finish a team off and that's becoming a worry."

Again hit by injury and late withdrawals, Shaw's patched up team began well enough and for much of the first half were the superior side.

They had the benefit of taking a 6-0 lead inside four minutes when skipper Aaron Heremaia sprinted clear for a converted try after Leroy Rivett and John Clough had created the opportunity.

Two carbon-copy Halifax tries meant they trailed at the interval. Then Richard Varkulis beat full-back Miles Greenwood on the outside for a try goaled by Graham Holroyd. Just two minutes later an almost identical raid saw Varkulis break the defence for Lee Patterson to score and make it 10-6. Leigh's fate was sealed 13 minutes from time when Frank Watene barged over from close in.