Matt Calland's side went into this game knowing they needed to set foot on the road to recovering form and confidence after those back to back losses to Widnes and Gateshead.

And they did, showing genuine composure as they virtually ended the game as a contest inside 26 minutes, with four converted tries putting them 24-0 ahead.

After the horrors they experienced in the north east last week, it was exactly the kind of controlled, clinical display their coach had called for.

Job done, Fax put their collective feet up, reached for a cigar and poured a drink. It was that easy.

For their part, Leigh were pretty dreadful from the first minute to the last and, to the outside observer at least, are displaying all the characteristics of a club tail-spinning their way towards relegation to Championship One.

Their incoming coach for 2010, the Australian Ian Millward, has already pledged his future regardless of which competition they are playing in.

On this evidence, the club's former coach, who transformed their fortunes before leaving for St Helens and then Wigan is likely to have to make good on that promise.

Providing he does return, Millward's top priority will be to instill some discipline into a team who, on this evidence, simply don't know the meaning of the word.

With their Halifax-born prop Andy Hobson setting a fractious tone up front, the visitors tested the patience of their opponents, and referee Jamie Leahy, from the off.

The torrent of penalties that ensued, coupled with the first half sin binning of prop Mike Morrison after Leahy's patience finally snapped almost half an hour in, not only ruled out any chance of a Leigh revival, but also went some way towards robbing the paying public of a decent sporting spectacle.

Fax have wreaked havoc with plenty of teams at the Shay so far this year, and by bigger scores than this, but few of them have looked as ill versed in the game's fundamentals as Leigh did last night.

The one way traffic had begun early.

Sean Penkywicz had already sent Rob Worrincy close in the corner when he produced a perfect chip kick 20 metres out for Royston to steal in behind the defence and put Fax ahead.

Lee Paterson, who finished with eight from eight after a flawless display of place kicking, stroked over the conversion and the home side were on their way.

Andy Bowman got the second of the night, David Larder's short pass putting newly re-signed full back Miles Greenwood in the clear against his former club and Mick Govin backing up on the inside to send Bowman over.

Fax were close to a third when Mark Gleeson sliced through on 17 minutes, but Paul Smith lost the ball close to the tryline.

Gleeson was not to be denied though, scything through from a play the ball 10 metres out to put his side 18-0 ahead.

And with Morrison cooling his heels in the dug out, it was Gleeson who conjured his side's fourth, combining with the impressive Said Tamghart to send Fax's other strike forward, Frank Watene, charging under the posts.

Leigh did finally score just past the half hour when Ian Mort, their impressive young full back, swooped on a terrible pass from Fax's starting hooker Bob Beswick, the only error of note in an otherwise solid display from the ex-Widnes playmaker.

But a 30-6 half time lead was assured when Worrincy, who was super strong going forward all night, pounced on a pass from Leigh hooker Jamie Durbin and raced half the length of the field to score under the posts.

Ironically, it was Worrincy's error that finally broke the second half deadlock after some low key opening exchanges, Leigh winger Jamie Smith touching down after a towering bomb from former Fax loan flop Tom Hemingway.

Penkywicz kept the other side of the scoreboard ticking over though, sending Haley in with a beautiful pass before creating Royston's second after a great break from Greenwood.

Smith's second of the night, after an uncharacteristic misjudgement from Haley, gave Leigh some respite but Haley crowned one of the easier wins of the year so far when he got his fingertips to Beswick's kick through.

MATCH FACTS
Halifax: Miles Greenwood; Lee Paterson, Jon Goddard, James Haley, Rob Worrincy; Mick Govin, Sean Penkywicz; Dana Wilson, Bob Beswick, David Larder, Andy Bowman, Paul Smith, Shad Royston. Subs: Mark Gleeson, Mark Roberts, Said Tamghart, Frank Watene
Tries: Haley (2), Royston (2), Gleeson, Watene, Bowman, Worrincy
Goals: Paterson (8)

Leigh: Ian Mort; Jamie Smith, Mick Nanyn, Anthony Stewart, Steve Maden; Tom Hemingway, Ian Watson; Mark Castle, Dave McConnell, Andy Hobson, Dave Armitstead, James Taylor, Aaron Smith. Subs: Martyn Ridyard, Mike Morrison, Chris Hill, McGraff Leuluai
Tries: J. Smith (2), Mort
Goals: Mort (2)

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury)
Attendance: 2,092

STARMAN
Leigh certainly played it tough last night, a little too tough for referee Jamie Leahy, who will be dipping into the petty cash tin at Red Hall next week to fund a new pea for his whistle.

But the harder the game got, the more Said Tamghart seemed to like it.

Fax's French enforcer finished the game sans teeth - not for the first time this year - but still produced a rip-roaring front row performance and takes three points in the season-long Star Man competition into the bargain.

The two points go to Rob Worrincy, whose willingness to come in field looking for work while still posing such a potent threat on the flanks had Leigh on red alert most of the night.

Worrincy found open space on more than one occasion last night, and his try, a perfectly judged swoop onto Jamie Durbin's pass, was reward for a fine performance.

Sure, his fumble allowed Jamie Smith to score for Leigh, but when Smith was clear in the closing minutes, it was Worrincy who turned on the afterburners and got back to shovel him into touch.

The final point goes to Bob Beswick after another clever night's work at hooker.

Beswick set up a fine try for James Haley, defended solidly with only that misplaced pass blotting his copybook.

PLAYER POINTS
Mark Gleeson 16, Sean Penkywicz 12, Said Tamghart 13, Matt James 11, Bob Beswick 12, Miles Greenwood 9, Frank Watene 9, Rob Worrincy 9, Ben Black 7, Lee Paterson 7, Shad Royston 5, David Larder 5, Mark Roberts 3, Dana Wilson 3, Paul Smith 2, James Haley 1, Mick Govin 1, Jon Goddard 1

YOU SAY
well done fax great forward effort its there to win only you can lose the league nige

well done fax didnt get out of 2nd gear tonight against a very poor Leigh side! ackers

so easy lets go now at win the league blunder