FORMER Widnes scrum half Jamie Durbin crossed for a hat-trick of tries as Leigh put the Skolars to the sword 74-6 in the Northern Rail Cup group games.

Durbin's work was more or less done in the first half as he bagged all his three tries in the space of half an hour.

The opposition wasn't in Leigh's league but the way the Centurions despatched the Southerners was nothing short of clinical.

Martyn Ridyard opened the scoring on five minutes with Ian Mort, Jamie Smith and Stuart Donlan all getting in on the action to assist three-try Durbin.

The pressure didn't ease in the second period when Sam Reay, Smith, Nick Stanton, Anthony Steward and Steve Maden (2) added tries. Mort kicked nine goals.

A MICHAEL Backhouse hat-trick finished off Darren Shaw's Rochdale outfit despite the Hornets providing a competitive first half display at Spotland.

The game was evenly balanced during the first 40 minutes after Mick Fogarty and Chris Giles got Rochdale off to a good start but Barrow hit the afteer burners in the second half and won 54-12.

TOOTHLESS Swinton Lions got their season off to the worse possible start as they shipped 11 tries in a 50-0 defeat against Dewsbury Rams.

Rams' winger Patrick Walker collected 22 points as he converted all the tries.

Swinton had plenty of experience in the shape of Martin Moana, Tommy Grundy and Paul Southern, Carl Sneyd and Richie Hawkyard, but they made little impact.

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