RYAN Brierley plundered a hat-trick as Leigh returned to Middle 8s action with an impressive nine-try rout of their Championship rivals.

And defeats for Bradford Bulls and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats leaves the Centurions just two points off the fourth versus fifth, £1 million match with three games to play.

Automatic promotion also is not out of the question but victory over the Eagles was imperative after losses to Hull KR, Salford and Wakefield.

“We’ll get there,” insists coach Paul Rowley. “Whether that’s this year, next year or the year after that.

“There are no dramas and we’re quite chilled about it.”

Leigh certainly did not have things all their own way and with nearly half an hour played Micky Higham’s opening try, converted by Martyn Ridyard, had been cancelled out by James Davey’s effort for the visitors, goaled by Pat Walker.

But three tries in five minutes, including a Brierley brace, blasted the contest wide open and ensured Leigh were in control of their own destiny.

And unlike against Wembley runners-up Rovers and Wakefield, Rowley’s men did not relinquish their advantage.

Ahead 24-10 at the interval, Leigh touched down five more times in the second period including a 90 metre interception to finish his latest individual feat by Brierley.

The scrum half’s treble took him on to 37 tries for the season, one more than winger Liam Kay, who added to his own impressive tally after 47 minutes.

Fui Fui Moimoi, Tommy Goulden and Gregg McNally, now on to 29 tries for the campaign, plus Andrew Dixon completed the try-scoring roster.

Points machine Ridyard, sin-binned in the opening period with Centurions on a team warning from referee James Child, finished with eight goals to leave him just three points away from a club haul of 1,500.

Leigh’s win was their third of 2016 against the South Yorkshire visitors and more to their liking after those three losses against top-flight opposition.

There was still no Gareth Hock for the home side despite hopes he would feature after minor knee surgery.

And even without suspended Kurt Haggerty as well, Leigh still possessed plenty of aggression in the pack.

Certainly Sheffield, after opening their own Middle 8s win account prior to the Challenge Cup final break, did not back down in a game of 20-plus penalties.

They also had Tony Tonks yellow carded for a high tackle by Child, whose performance drew criticism from Eagles chief Mark Aston.

Goulden and McNally crossed with Sheffield down to 12-men but by then the game had gone for the visitors.

Leigh travel to Halifax on Sunday to face a side still searching for their first Middle 8s success after four straight defeats, including last Saturday’s 50-28 home drubbing by Salford.

Leigh Centurions: McNally; Pownall, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Moimoi, Higham, Emmitt, Dixon, Goulden, Acton; subs: Reynolds, Wilkes, Aspinwall, Spencer.

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu Togagae; Turner, Yere, Smeaton, Worrincy; Aston, Brambani; Battye, Carlile, Tonks, Knowles, Straugheir, Walker; subs: Taulapapa, Davey, Davies, Scott.

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 4,021