AFTER replacing Paul Wingfield as Leigh East Head Coach mid week, Martin Roden tasted victory in his first game in charge.

It came at Crosfields with East collecting just their second away win of the season.

The former Wigan, Leigh and Blackpool hooker put an immediate stamp on the job as committed defence won the day.

Crosfields took the lead after seven minutes when wing Danny Lee collected a kick into the corner from Billy Sheen for the try and half back Jack Reid goaled.

As East put on pressure Nathan Gaskell was sent to the sin-bin but this seemed to galvanise the Leigh side and they swept over for two tries in his absence.

The first followed simple and effective build-up on the back of big inroads from Adam Wilkes, Jordan Hellam and Adam Holland.

Pat Rainford then ducked a tackle to ground at the side of the posts. Tom Worthington goaled to level and was on hand to goal a storming Wilkes effort minutes later after Worthington and Louis Else brought the ball back to the middle.

At that stage it was 12-6 to East. Crosfields levelled after 25 minutes through Matt Barber with Jack Reid tagging on the goal before East took the lead six minutes before half-time when Gaskell made amends with a stepping run from fifteen metres that took him to the try-line.

Worthington added the goal points and East led 18-12 at half-time.

The game stayed locked at that score for a long time before the visitors broke the deadlock on the hour. Jay Yarwood made the inroads from Andrew Ball before the ball went left through Worthington and Holland.

Hellam supported to step through the line and go under the posts. Worthington added his fourth goal and it was 24-12.

Ash Cornelia responded for Crosfields but Reid missed the conversion.

At 24-16 the hosts had hope but East deserved the win and all but made sure after 71 minutes.

Sub Jordan Hill set the position before the ball came down the blindside and Yarwood trailed the inside of Worthington to collect the scoring pass.

There was no conversion but East led 28-16 and their defence did enough to hold Crosfields at bay in the closing stages.