Keighley Cougars 10 Leigh Centurions 48 By Martyn Hindley:THE Centurions cruised back to winning ways at Cougar Park with an almost effortless eight-try thumping of bottom-placed Keighley.

But injuries sustained before and during the win could force Darren Abram to field the youngsters and preserve his stars in the run-up to the play-offs.

"Whether we finish top, second, third, wherever, we have to make sure that we are in the best possible shape to be firing by Grand Final day," said Abram.

Sunday's opponents, Doncaster, might be licking their lips in anticipation, but Mick Govin's performance at stand-off -- replacing the injured John Duffy -- proved that even the second string are a class act.

The league leaders are a versatile bunch as well -- Chris Percival switching from the back row to the three quarters after just 90 seconds as Ben Cooper made his way to hospital with an injured cheekbone.

By that time though, the injury-ravaged visitors had already taken the lead with their first touch of the ball.

Danny Halliwell read Matt Firth's pass centre field and plucked a simple intercept before cantering 60 metres to the line.

Firth had a horrendous afternoon. The scrum-half cleared the in-goal area by ten metres with the re-start, and proceeded to fling over-expansive passes into open space all afternoon.

To compound the frustrations of the home crowd, the other number seven was quite brilliant.

Tommy Martyn's 40-20 averted Keighley pressure, and when the beleaguered Cougars were caught offside in the subsequent set of six, Neil Turley took the score to 8-0.

Martyn then hurled a long pass to feed Rob Smyth on the right flank and pulled two clever grubber kicks out of the hat to give Turley two-thirds of his hat-trick by the interval.

Turley's trusty right-boot consistently pushed Division Two-bound Keighley further out of reach, as the full-back bagged a personal haul of 28 points.

His only miss of the game came from a touchline attempt after Damian Munro squeezed over in the corner to virtually seal the spoils on the crest of the interval.

The Cougars seldom threatened and their struggle was illustrated amply by Simeon Hoyle's choking on the ball in possession, knocking-on within sight of the line.

When they eventually broke clear to get off the mark on 32 minutes, the try was only awarded after the most bizarre midfield conference involving referee, touch judge and five players.

Matt Bramald's juggling skills served him well on the left and his off-load, mid-tackle was met by Max Tomlinson's desperate grasp and stumble to the line.

But referee Glen Black headed back to his far side touch-judge, who was waving his flag like a crazed Grand Prix marshall, and discussed the legality of the four-pointer for almost two minutes before allowing Craig Nipperess to tag on the conversion.

"We asked for no fancy football today and just did the simple game-plan well," said Abram.

"We felt that the game was wrapped up by half-time perhaps, so we were able to rest Tommy Martyn a bit.

"He keeps telling me he's looking forward to five league games, two play-off ties and that's it," quipped the coach.

Martyn did spend time on the bench, but only after he had rounded off the scoring by anticipating Hoyle's wayward pass enough to steal possession and entertain the travelling support with an emphatic touchdown.

The second period as a whole though, was relatively flat, with the heat and the overwhelming Centurions' dominance of the first instalment taking its toll.

Keighley tried to assert pressure, but even when Turley was grounded in-goal to force a drop-out, the same player just got to his feet and thumped a staggering field length kick to alleviate any danger.

Turley was still insatiable in attack too.

His neat side-step had Matt Bramald needing a taxi back to catch him. Nobody did, and the full-back had a deserved hat-trick with 17 minutes to go.

With his next touch of the ball after adding the goal, Turley triggered the move that ultimately fed Munro a second try on the left fringe after the ball had swung through five pairs of hands as if attached to a string.

The win was satisfying. but the long-term plan continues to occupy Darren Abram's mind.

"Tommy Martyn and Richard Marshall are both feeling knocks and Ben Cooper will be on the treatment table with the lads who missed out as well," says Abram.

"But the chances of us taking loan players isn't high because people don't seem particularly keen to send their lads to Leigh for some reason."

Leigh's mini injury crisis was already of paramount importance by the time Keighley crossed for a consolation score with the game in its' death throes.

Substitutes Adam Mitchell and Chris Wainwright combined for the latter to pile over. Gary Moorby's side thought they had scored earlier, but Jason Clegg's effort was disallowed for a forward pass.

Keighley: Bramald, Smith, D Foster, Robinson, Tomlinson, Nipperess, Firth, Stevenson, Hoyle, Clegg, Ross, McDowell, Patterson. Subs (all used): Mitchell, Wainwright, Fielden, Mervill.

Centurions: Turley, Smyth, Halliwell, Cooper, Munro, Govin, Martin, Cruikshank, McConnell, Sturm, Percival, Wilkes, Knott. Subs (all used): Swann, Marshall, Callan, Isherwood.

Scores: Keighley -- T: Tomlinson (32 mins), Wainwright (78).

G: Nipperess 1/1, Mitchell 0/1.

Leigh --T: Halliwell (2), Smyth (16), Turley (20,36,63), Munro (39,69), Martyn (72).

G: Turley 8/9

Half-Time: 6-30

Referee: Glen Black

Penalty count: 9-6

TOMMY MARTYN -- His inspirational creativity and leadership helped dismantle and demoralise a Keighley side who couldn't cope with his class.

Moment of the Match:

TURLEY'S field-length drop-out exemplified the way Leigh turned the screw by regularly turning defence into pressure at the other end.

Moan of the Match:

COULD Darren Abram have any worse luck with injuries? Ben Cooper's ill-fortune inside 50 seconds rubbed salt into the wounds.