Saints 17 Leigh 16

TEENAGE half-back Scott Moore coolly slotted over a last minute drop goal to deny his home town club a share of the spoils in Boxing Day's BT Challenge played on a snowy pitch.

It was the first time Saints had been in front in this keenly fought tussle against the Super League newcomers.

Saints, fielding an experimental team featuring new signings Paul Anderson and Michael Smith alongside a healthy smattering of academy youngsters, took a while to get into the game.

There was some positives - particularly from some of the youngsters relishing the opportunity to perform in front of a healthy 4,600 crowd.

Young Matty Smith particularly caught the eye when he was drafted into the action from the bench.

But it was the strong running 20-stone veteran prop Anderson who brought most roars with his trademark charges taking out three men at a time.

Anderson is the heaviest prop in Saints' history, and he certainly caused some damage.

The jury is still out on fellow debutant, former Castleford and New Zealand test second row Michael Smith, who looked considerably overweight. Now that fitness coach Apollo Perelini has got to grips with him, there is no doubt a few floggings up and down the big hill at Taylor Park will knock Smith into shape in time for the Super League launch in February.

There were a few groans from the Popular Side when Leigh twice opened up Saints' left hand side with ease to carve out openings for Rob Smyth to cross in the corner. Midway between the scores Saints had been weakened on that side of the park when a groggy looking Ade Gardner was helped of the field with blood gushing from a facial wound.

Trailing 12-0 after only 10 minutes, many of the home faithful seemed prepared to simply write the tie off as a training run out for the youngsters.

It could have been worse and only a last ditch tackle from Moore and Saints' full back Ian Hardman denied Leigh a third try on the stroke of half time, when Rob Jackson was bundled into touch at the corner flag.

Leigh's second rower Mark Leafa must have found something disagreeable in the decision and was dispatched to the sin-bin for dissent.

A deficit of 18-0 at the break would have been a touch too harsh for Saints, who seemed to enjoy most of the territorial advantage in the opening 40 minutes.

Saints used the one-man advantage to rally in the opening stages of the second half.

Within five minutes of the restart, Anderson was just held up on the line by a three-man tackle.

When the ball was worked right, substitute wingman Gareth Langley was on hand to touch down.

Carl Forber slotted over the touchline conversion and repeated the feat two minutes later when Anderson crashed over for his first try in the red vee.

Both sides had chances and then Leigh centre Rob Jackson squeezed over midway through the half to restore Leigh's lead.

Seven minutes from time Saints' skipper for the day Mike Bennett then finished off a move on the left hand side to go over.

The conversion effort off the touchline just fell short to set the scene for Moore to do his stuff.