T’S as you were for Leigh Centurions in the Betfred Championship despite a magnificent 18-16 win over Toulouse win in south west France.

Kieron Purtill’s side remain sixth but now only two points separate five teams in the race for the end of season Middle 8’s spots.

Purtill recently suggested a top two finish to obtain an extra home game might be beyond the Centurions.

Now though that’s a distinct possibility with six games to go before the curtain comes down on the first half of the campaign.

Leigh had lost their previous two games against the French outfit who opted to play this key game in Albi, nearly 50 miles from their usual home base.

They were rewarded with a crowd of 5,373 for this second versus sixth clash.

But the home fans eventually fell silent as Leigh backed up their dramatic last gasp win over Halifax a week earlier.

And for a second successive weekend Craig Hall came up with the goods to earn Centurions an 11th league win of the year.

Hall’s late try broke Halifax hearts but this time he used his boot to good effect after Ben Reynolds earlier landed one goal from three attempts.

Hall’s first penalty tied the scores at 16-all before his second with 12 minutes left clinched the game.

Toulouse, 38-30 winners at Leigh Sports Village back in February, opened the scoring in this key fixture.

But Gavin Marguerite’s second minute try was quickly cancelled out by a fifth minute reply from Toulouse born, former Olympique forward, Kevin Larroyer, touching down.

Leigh continued to make the front running and were rewarded for their enterprise when prop Jamie Acton barged over by the posts. Reynolds tagged on the extras and the visitors led 10-4.

Nine minutes later Centurions scored again as Ricky Bailey touched down in the corner thanks to an excellent ball from Drew Hutchison.

Reynolds missed his conversion but at 14-4 in Leigh’s favour, the score board made good reading.

Toulouse, previously beaten only once at home this season by Toronto, fought back through a Bastien Canet try which Mark Kheirallah converted.

And the Toulouse comeback was completed when prop Con Mika finished off a flowing move after 47 minutes and Kheirallah goaled to make it 16-14 in the home’s team favour.

That was the end of the try scoring but not the drama as hero Hall landed his back to back penalties to earn Leigh another massive win.

Match stats:

Toulouse:

Kheirallah; Maurel, Ader, Marguerite, Centrone; Ford, Barthau; Mika, Marion, Canet, Boyer, Bouzinac, Bretherton; substitutes: Kriouache, Hepi, Pettybourne, Puech.

Tries Marguerite (2), Canet (29), Mika (45);

Goals Kheirallah 2/3

Leigh: Owens; Ricky Bailey, Crooks, Hall, Evans; Reynolds, Hutchison; Acton, Hood, Hansen, Larroyer, B Thompson, J Thompson; substitutes: Mortimer, Baldwinson, Dezairia, Gregson.

Tries Larroyer (5), Acton (12), Bailey (25);

Goals Reynolds 1/3, Hall 2/2.

Referee Tom Grant.

Half-time: 10-14.

Attendance: 5,373