So what does happen when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? Hilton Park played host to the country's top RL game on Sunday, but 80 minutes of graft, grind and drama were unable to separate Leigh and Hornets.

Hornets will feel the most disappointed as they failed to capitalise on Leigh's reduction to 12 men after just 13 minutes. Where top billing in the aggro stakes had been taken by the debuts of Paul Davidson and Vila Matautia, it was David Bradbury who took the long walk after a moment of complete madness.

Hornets were camped on the Leigh line and David Stephenson took a short pass at speed, only to be stopped in his tracks by what appeared to be a Bradbury punch.
Most commentators on this game have been fairly non-commital regarding Bradbury's offence. But from where I stood he basically short-armed Stevo who was taking the ball in at full flight. Paul Terzis' comment that Bradbury's got a '...cut on his finger where it went into Dave Stephenson's eye...' I'm sure is cold comfort to Stevo who's nursing ten stitches in an eye wound this morning. Let's not dance around this one, Bradbury's first point of contact was Stevo's head with some point between his fist and his elbow. It looked like a brutal assault to me and Mr Cummins agreed - and as Bradbury slunk past us on the way back to the dressing room, several Hornets supporters took the opportunity to call him a Biffo scumbag. Which of course he is.

Stevo was carried from the field by worried medical staff, James Bunyan joined the fray and Agar converted the resulting penalty.

Rather than acting as a catalyst for Hornets to grasp the game, the sending off galvanised Leigh into determined action. Where Hornets seemed content to keep the ball tight - driving in for the hard yards and seeking field position through some dedcidedly dubious kicking by Agar, Leigh belied their deficit and opened up their game.

Some fine handling at close quarters saw Rowley stroll in unopposed after 24 minutes and five minutes later, Leigh confounded home and away fans alike by working an overlap for stand-in fullback Bretherton to steal Turley's usual try.

12 men, 12-2 up and with Hornets struggling to establish any real rhythm Leigh were again forced back deep into their own territory under some concerted pressure. It was only a matter of time before the Leigh defence cracked and it was unlocked by Latham Tawhai on 31 minutes as he jinked past Bretherton and slipped the ball to O'Meara, who found Richard Pachniuk in close attendance to receive the pass and score. Agar converted and at 12-8, Hornets supporters felt that the tide had turned.

But Leigh had other ideas. For 30 minutes they held firm, frustrating Hornets with some committed defence and happy to pile the ball downfield and feed from the ample scraps that our poor handling threw them. Then Martin Hall played his trump card. Marlon BIlly was replaced by high speed Casey Mayberry - and it was indeed he who appeared on Paul Davidson's left shoulder with 8 minutes remaining to take a great pass, crash through his opposit number and score by the flag. Scores tied and Agar needing to place a touchline conversion to steal the lead. With deadeye cool, he obliged - Hornets supporters exhaled in relief and the home contingent woke to rouse their charges one last time.

Leigh opted for the direct approach. Strong hard running - mainly from Matautia who had been largley anonymouse to that point - took them into the Hornets danger zone. Last tackle, Chris Morley took the ball into traffic and, as he was felled by three defenders, attempted a speculatory pass which went to ground. Referee Cummins astounded everyone in the ground by deciding that the ball had been raked. Svabic obliged with the resulting penalty and - with Leigh surviving a charged down Agar drop-goal attempt - the game ended at stalemate, 14-all.

Both coaches were disappointed afterwards, Terzis feeling that it was a point dropped and '..a character-building exercise'; Martin Hall conceding that a completion rate of 50% isn't enough to overcome a depleted, but determined side.

While both sets of supporters were disappointed at the quality of Mr Cummins' handling of the game, they'll be relieved at the outcome. Few sides will leave Hilton Park with anything this term, so Hornets can consider it a reasonable day at the office. Leigh can congratulate themselves on salvaging a point with a brave 12 man performance.

Pick of the team for Hornets was Richard Pachniuk who, when all else failed, took the ball forward and played his opposite number off the park. Mentions in dispatched too for Matt Calland, who showed a repeated willingness to pile the ball in at a resolute Leigh defence, and Paul Davidson who showed an impressive ability to suck in defenders and offload the ball - and he'll get better as the season progresses.

And - whatever your allegiance in this one - if you're still disappointed at dropping a point, remember: Oldham got tonked at Dewsbury.

See, life's not that bad after all.