A CLINICAL first half display killed this top of the table clash as a spectacle not that Leigh Centurions had any complaints.

Five of the visitors’ seven tries came in the opening 40 minutes as Broncos’ unbeaten Championship home record was shattered.

A 17th Kingstone Press Championship victory leaves Neil Jukes’ team five points clear of their closest rivals, securing a top two finish with four games remaining.

A third consecutive League Leaders’ Shield remains fractionally out of reach for the moment, but Leigh are now guaranteed four home games in the Middle 8’s.

And victory against Bradford Bulls at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday and defeat for Broncos at Dewsbury will ensure that top spot once more.

Leigh’s latest success justified their decision to only travel down on the day of the game. And the wide awake table toppers were soon inflicting capital punishment on their hosts.

Josh Drinkwater needed only three minutes to show what his former team was missing, racing in after good approach by Travis Burns and Fuifui Moimoi.

Broncos talked a good game in the build-up to the match and responded well as they tried to get back on level terms. Centurions’ defence was tested by consecutive dropouts but stiffened by the returns from suspension of Micky Higham and Gareth Hock, it held firm.

And the two returnees also turned defence into attack for Cory Paterson to grab the first of his opening period double.

Lee Smith goaled both touchdowns and kicked a penalty to put Leigh 14-0 clear. Their task became even easier after 22 minutes when Mark Ioane was yellow carded for an unsavoury tackle of Adam Higson.

With Ioane kicking his heels on the side lines, Paterson made the extra man advantage tell with his second touchdown of the game.

Ex Warrington winger Rhys Williams thought he’d reduced London’s arrears but referee Cobb spotted a forward pass.

And it was game, set and match when Greg Worthington and Liam Kay added further touchdowns before the interval.

A 28-0 score line made depressing reading for the Broncos, almost 36 years to the day since Fulham FC were voted into the professional structure.

Ioane gained some atonement for his earlier sin binning by grabbing one of two Broncos’ tries in the second period. However, there was little hope of a comeback as Higson crossed after 58 minutes following good build-up between Paterson and Tom Armstrong.

Broncos notched a second try through Api Pewhairangi with Liam Hood sin binned for a tackle on James Cunningham.

But Centurions weren’t finished and Worthington touched down for his second of the afternoon before Lee Smith rounded off the scoring with a late penalty.

Match stats:

Broncos:

Kear; Williams, Hellewell, Foster, Macani; Pewhairangi, Leatherbarrow; Slyney, Cunningham, Ioane, Harrison, Garside, Offerdahl; subs: Bussey, Magrin, Battye, Thackray.

Tries: Ioane (43), Pewhairangi (65)

Goals: Pewhairangi (2)

Centurions:

Smith; Higson, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay; Drinkwater, Burns; Moimoi, Higham, Weston, Maitua, Paterson, Hock; Hood, Hansen, Hopkins, Evans

Tries: Drinkwater (3), Paterson (10,26), Worthington (35, 72), Kay (39), Higson (58)

Goals: Smith (5)

Referee: Joe Cobb

Attendance: 1,234