LEIGH Centurions won through to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup for the second straight year after dumping Super League basement club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats out of the competition with a second-half blitz.

Paul Rowley's side turned around a 22-point deficit with a staggering 30 points after the break to set up a trip to Warrington Wolves in the last eight.

It was a complete turnaround after the Centurions conceded four tries in the first 29 minutes.

Wakefield opened the scoring after eight minutes as Nick Scruton pounced on a dropped ball from Leigh's Michael Platt to send Chris Riley. Craig Hall goaled to make it 6-0.

Martyn Ridyard was unable to make the best of an opportunity to score after being closed down by the Wakefield defence as he attempted to capitlise on a Jonny Pownall kick.

The hosts added to their tally after the quick thinking of Tim Smith, dabbing through from close range for Joe Arundel to pounce.

At the other end Leigh saw Bob Beswick held up on the last tackle.

Scruton extended the Wakefield lead to 16-0 when he converted a pass from Paul McShane on 24 minutes after clever play by the dummy half.

Centurions struggled to settle in an error-strewn opening half and the home side flourished as McShane's stabbed kick found Arundel for him to claim his second try.

Leigh finally gave their supporters something to cheer when strong running from Ridyard allowed him to put in Ryan Brierley for his 13th try of the season.

Ridyard converted to give Leigh hope but Craig Hall added to Wakefield's score with a penalty just before half time to give the hosts a 24-6 lead at the break.

Rowley's side started the second half like a train with Sam Hopkins making a startling 50-metre break but Wakefield recovered their composure to halt that attack.

Liam Kay also went close for Leigh on 45 minutes but was then sin-binned along with Wakefield's Danny Kirmond following a short skirmish.

The Centurions reacted best to the incident and, a minute later, Brierley sent the impressive Pownall in by the right flag.

Ridyard converted brilliantly and despite trailing by 12 points, Leigh were a transformed team, running with more vigour and conviction.

After forcing a second drop out, Leigh came up with a try from skipper Bob Beswick.

The Centurions then claimed a stunning score through Tom Armstrong to draw level.

On the last tackle, Brierley chipped over from inside his own half, beat three Wakefield players to the ball and in an instant sent Armstrong haring over from 20 metres and Ridyard converted from wide out to level the game.

Brierley saw a try disallowed for offside from Ridyard’s intelligent kick before Jon Molloy charged under the posts on the hour for Wakefield.

Hall booted his fifth goal, but Leigh again showed lots of spirit to climb up and score two tries in three minutes.

The first came after a Beswick 40-20, which Hopkins burst on to and proved impossible to stop.

Then, on 72 minutes, after Ridyard had missed a penalty, came the move of the match.

The Centurions played the ball out left through McNally, Armstrong and Kay, who turned the ball back inside and the excellent Beswick fired a pass inside for Oliver Wilkes to condemn his former team to defeat.

Leigh Centurions: McNally, Pownall, Platt, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Moimoi, Beswick, Hock, Goulden, Dixon, Acton. Subs (all used): Haggerty, Hopkins, Wilkes, Barlow.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Attendance: 3,859.