Toulouse 44

Leigh Centurions 16

ALL good things have to come to an end but Leigh surrendered their four-game winning streak with a whimper rather than a bang in France.

Outscored eight tries to three, Centurions couldn’t repeat their start of the season heroics when beating Toulouse at Leigh Sports Village.

Defeat dropped Leigh out of the Championship’s top five on points difference as Toulouse kept up the pressure on runaway leaders Toronto Wolfpack.

Josh Simm, Ryan Brierley and Gregg McNally touched down for the visitors who trailed 20-2 before re-discovering some of the form of recent weeks.

But after the euphoria of victory over Widnes Vikings at Summer Bash this was a reality check for John Duffy’s team.

“Attitude and desire have been our winning formula this season,” said Duffy.

“But for some reason it wasn’t there.

“If we want to be there or thereabouts in the play-offs we can’t turn up like that again.

“Toulouse are a great team with some great individuals and we got bullied out there.

“Our big players didn’t really stand up and across the board we got ruined by their classy players - Ford, Kheirallah and James Bell, who I thought was outstanding.”

Leigh actually led through an early Martin Ridyard penalty but were 12-2 down at half-time as Paul Marcon and Bell touched down for the classy French.

To make a game of it Centurions had to make a better start to the second half than they had to the first.

Instead, Con Mika and centre Mathieu Jussaume crossed in quick succession to virtually put the game out of reach.

Teenager Simm reduced the arrears with a first senior try only for Marcon and Jussaume to put Toulouse in total control.

Paterika Vaivai, who made nine appearances for Centurions after signing from Gold Coast Titans in October 2017, then got on the score sheet after 67 minutes.

Ryan Brierley’s fifth try in four matches since returning to the club took Leigh’s points into double figures.

Toulouse hadn’t finished and Stan Robin notched their eighth try before McNally rounded off the scoring with a final minute touch down.

Match stats:

Toulouse: Kheirallah; Marcon, Jussaume, Marguerita, Broughton; Ford, Robin: Puech, Parata, Vaivai, Bell, Mika, Marion; substitutes: Evans, Hepi, Dezari, Santi.

Tries: Marcon (5 and 61), Bell (29), Jussaume (49, 64), Mika (45), Vaivai (67), Robin (76)

Goals: Kheirallah (6)

Leigh: Ridyard; Higginson, Simm, I Thornley, McNally; Brierley, Woods; Douglas, Hood, Brooks, T Adamson, Laithwaite, Emmitt; substitutes: Higham, Cator, Spencer, A Thornley.

Tries: Simm(54), Brierley (71), McNally (80)

Goals: Ridyard (1), Brierley (1)

Referee: M Griffiths

Half-time: 12-2

Attendance: 2,235