LEIGH Centurions missed out on the chance to set rugby league history after going down 29-20 at London Broncos to taste defeat for the first time in 28 matches.

Paul Rowley's side ended their unprecedented winning run just two victories short of the all-time record, set by Wigan in 1987.

The damage was done in the opening half as London Broncos ran in four tries – three in a dominant opening 22 minutes.

Leigh's bad day started in their first attack, which was put down by Tom Armstrong just seconds after the game got underway.

That mistake paved the way for an incessant spell of pressure that was finally turned into points by Broncos stand-off Oscar Thomas.

All the running for the opening try came from veteran forward Jamie Thackray who got the better of his clash with former Super League adversaries Mickey Higham and Oliver Wilkes.

A second London try soon followed when home full-back Elliott Kear drew the defence and fired a pass left for Illiess Macani to finish well and just like his first attempt, Fijian international Wes Naiqama swept his goal-kick between the posts.

The Centurions briefly threatened but after a failed kick London were soon applying pressure again.

This was turned into points when some brilliant footwork by Macani saw him dance infield and finish powerfully for his second try and a 16-0 advantage.

That score seemed to spark Leigh into life and Jonny Pownall finished for his 50th try in Leigh colours.

Martyn Ridyard swept his conversion attempt wide and the Centurions were soon down on the London line again with replacement forwards Tom Spencer and Sam Hopkins adding more punch.

Unfortunately for Leigh they put the ball down in a promising position and Matt Garside and Naiqama combined to go sixty metres.

From the set, the Broncos registered points when Naiqama crashed through from close range and then goaled to open a 22-4 advantage.

Lesser sides may have crumbled at that point but Leigh fired back at their hosts to claim two tries before the break. Pownall finished well for his second try after 35 minutes and Leigh claimed another within two minutes as Hopkins, Andrew Dixon and Gregg McNally broke the line for Armstrong to support for an emphatic score under the posts – his 10th try of the season.

Ridyard's goal made it 22-16 at half-time, after the Broncos' dual contract half-back Tom Gilmore missed a drop goal for the hosts in the closing seconds.

Leigh were confident of better in the second period, but an error-strewn opening kept them pinned inside their own half.

Broncos' Ben Hellewell missed a chance to add to the score and Leigh appeared to have worked their way into the half before a clearance from Ridyard was charged down and as Leigh players looked to the referee, Thackray rolled back the years, running 40 metres to swan dive under the posts for Naiqama to add his fourth goal.

Liam Kay looked clear and in his way to closing the gap for Centurions, only for Kear's brilliant tackle to take the top scorer into touch.

The move at least restored the visitors' confidence and McNally somehow dummied his way to the line for four points at the corner.

However, Leigh were not at their best and despite having enough time remaining could not find a way past a resolute and steadfast London defence.

The Broncos made the game safe on 70 minutes when Elliott Minchella struck a drop goal from close range to claim a deserved win for the hosts.

Leigh Centurions: McNally, Pownall, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Emmitt, Higham, Wilkes, Dixon, Goulden, Barlow. Subs: Beswick, Spencer, Haggerty, Hopkins.

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow.