London Broncos 30

Leigh Centurions 40

THREE was definitely a magic number for Leigh Centurions as they recorded a third win in five weeks over hosts London Broncos.

This latest success at the Ealing Trailfinders Sports Ground was the closest contest of the trilogy.

Only two points separated the Betfred Championship rivals with just over 10 minutes remaining.

But caretaker boss Kieron Purtill has instilled a steely determination in with Leigh’s attacking flair.

And win number nine in a row was confirmed with late tries from prolific Liam Hood and full-back Peter Mata’utia.

The visitors also overcame the second half loss of Drew Hutchison to the sin bin and sweltering conditions in the capital to register another victory.

Leigh are now level with the Broncos but remain frustratingly outside the top four on points difference.

An assault on the Middle 8’s places will be put on hold for tomorrow’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup sixth round tie with Salford Red Devils.

But Leigh’s current red hot form-five successive games scoring 40 plus points-will serve them well for a trip to third placed Featherstone on May 19.

They were behind only once when ex Warrington winger Rhys Williams scored the first of the game’s 12 tries after seven minutes.

By half-time Leigh led 18-12 thanks to tries from Rhys Evans, Harrison Hansen and another touchdown for the collection for Craig Hall. 
London levelled for a second time thanks to Matty Gee’s 45th minute try before Hall again with an interception and a first since coming out of retirement for Micky Higham, helped by an outrageous dummy, put Leigh in command at 30-18.
Hutchison’s yellow card for holding down put the outcome in doubt as James Meadows dived over for a converted try.
A Reynolds penalty gave Leigh a two score lead only for Sadiq Adebiyi to cross for Jarrod Sammut to add a fifth goal.
Leigh’s early season form was characterised by late collapses but not this time.
Hood-for a seventh consecutive game-and Mata’utia crossed the home line in the last nine minutes to complete a well-earned victory.
Broncos: Dixon; Walker, Williams, Channing, Kear; Sammut, Meadows; Adebiyi, Harrison, Pitts, Evans, Davis, Battye; subs: Cunningham, Ioane, Lovell, Gee.
Tries: Williams (7), Walker (33), Gee (45), Meadows (59), Adebiyi (68),
Goals: Sammut (5)
Leigh:  Mata’utia; Dawson-Jones, Crooks, Hall, Evans; Reynolds, Hutchison; Mason, Hood, Acton, Hansen, B Thompson, J. Thompson; substitutes: Higham, Bailey, Richards, Lovett.
Tries: Evans (10), Hansen (17), Hall (38, 50), Higham (52), Hood (71), Mata’utia (73).
Goals: Reynolds (6).
Referee: Greg Dolan.
Half-time: 12-18.
Attendance: 1,340.