EACH week in the Star we will be looking back at the past game between Saints and their opponents of the week.

This week we dig out a game from the 1980s - but it will be painful for Saints fans of that generation.

Saints and Leigh have taken part in some cracking tussles over the years - but on September 2, 1981 they came unstuck against Alex Murphy’s side in the Lancashire Cup semi-final at a fervent Hilton Park, packed with more than 8,000 fans.

Saints’ season had started promisingly and Kel Coslett’s side had made it through to the last four of the county cup after beating Blackpool Borough and Barrow in the opening rounds.

They had been playing well with new signing John Butler scheming at stand off. 

Butler had been around the block with a career and Salford and Wigan before joining his hometown team. 

In what had been a tough climate for Saints in the transfer market, all the usual irons in the fire had failed to materialise.

Saints had, however, started the season promisingly, trying out Peter Glynn as an attacking full back.

And after thumping newly-promoted Fulham on the first day there was plenty of optimism.

Alas, it proved to be a false dawn barely weeks into the new campaign.

Although Leigh, on paper, simply looked a workmanlike squad, their solid forwards like Alf Wilkinson, Tony Cooke and hooker Ray Tabern laid a platform for two genuine stars in the British game - John Woods and Des Drummond.

Drummond was a player with lightning pace, and had even won the 100m Superstars event, breaking the longstanding sprint record.

It was not he who caused the damage this night though.

Woods was white-hot that night, stepping and swerving through a Saints defence that could not cope with his pace.

In fact, with Leigh running so hot, Saints’ best hope that night seemed to come when the floodlights failed on one side of the ground.

Referee Fred Lindop asked both skippers if they wanted to play on, and with Woods running the show he was never going to say no.

Although Welshman Steve Bayliss and centre Chris Arkwright scored tries for Saints, and inspired Woods helped Leigh storm to a 20-6 victory.

It turned out to be no disgrace, as Leigh went on to beat Widnes in the final and then added the League title for good measure.