Leigh 36 Featherstone Rovers 10: Rovers are comfortably swept aside as Nanyn impresses

Mick Nanyn starred for the hosts with a 20-point contribution. The centre struck six goals and produced two tries as, despite a bright opening, Rovers found themselves 16-6 down at the interval.

Tom Armstrong opened the score for the hosts after 10 minutes and Nanyn quickly doubled the advantage after a raid down the left.

Gradually, Rovers fought their way into the contest and replied when lively Liam Finn linked with Andy Kain for Zak Hardaker to romp through a gap.

Finn converted but Leigh grabbed another score when Jamie Ellis forced his way over.

Early in the second half Nanyn saw a ‘try’ disallowed and although Kain almost claimed points at the other end, Leigh scored a fourth try through Dean McGilvray.

Rovers responded positively when Kain linked with Bryn Powell for the former Dewsbury winger to dash in at the corner but after Nanyn converted a 69th-minute penalty, Leigh finished the game strongly with the centre latching onto a kick before a fortunate bounce favoured Stuart Donlan and the veteran full-back ran on for the sixth try with Nanyn completing his, and Leigh’s haul.

Leigh Centurions: Donlan, McGilvray, Nanyn, Armstrong, Maden; Ellis, Ridyard; Hill, Duffy, Mills, Goulden, Littler, Taylor. Substitutes: Nash, Thornley, Gorski, Govin.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardaker, Powell, Smeaton, Welham, Saxton; Kain, Finn; Dickens, Kaye, Grayshon, Dale, Spears, Worthington. Substitutes: Williams, Hardman, Muvududu, Pearson.

Referee: M Thomason.

Hull KR have been forced to de-register Australian scrum-half Michael Dobson to accommodate new signing Willie Mason on their overseas quota in time to play him against Crusaders on Sunday.

The 30-year-old former Australia Test forward, arguably the biggest overseas recruit in the history of Super League, is set to make his debut after flying into the country this week to take up a two-year contract with Rovers.

It was thought Mason had used his newly-acquired Tongan passport to enter the country and take advantage of a loophole in the Rugby Football League’s overseas quota regulations through the Cotonou Agreement, a treaty agreed 10 years ago by the European Union and the Pacific nations.

However, it now appears the player used his New Zealand passport to enter the country and, therefore, must count on the club’s five-strong overseas quota.

Dobson, who has been ruled out for up to two months with an ankle injury, has been taken off Rovers’ register to make way for Mason.