Sheffield Eagles 12 Leigh Centurions 54

PAUL Rowley's 2014 troops created a club record 15 straight wins with a demolition job at reigning champions Sheffield Eagles on Sunday.

The game was played in a steady downpour in the first half, yet Leigh scored four tries to one to take a stranglehold before accelerating away after the break.

Sheffield conceded the first penalty after three tackles and it put Centurions in prime position to strike.

Martyn Ridyard, Ryan Brierley and Gregg McNally were at the heart of the attack which ledto  former Eagles centre Tom Armstrong cleverly working space for Liam Kay to ground in the corner.

It was the start of a memorable afternoon for Kay, the first of four tries for the former Wakefield man.

Ridyard kicked superbly from the touchline and Leigh doubled their advantage after seven minutes when Bob Beswick dummied his way over from close range for Ridyard to again convert.

Eagles profited from Centurions conceding a penalty and crossed next through USA World Cup centre Lelauloto Tagaloa, converted by Dominic Brambani.

Play was then suspended for several minutes due to a medical emergency in the crowd and shortly after the resumption Leigh charged forward with renewed vigour with Sam Barlow and Tom Spencer well to the fore.

McNally fired a pass left to get Kay in for his second and the full back was next on the score board after Barlow released Ridyard and he kicked ahead, with McNally just beating top scorer Brierley to the ball.

Two Ridyard penalties in the last 10 minutes of the half saw the Centurions extend their lead to 26-6.

The first 15 minutes of the second half saw Sheffield enjoy their best spell as they threatened the Leigh line on several occasions.

Midway through this period, Leigh scored against the run of play when Quentin Laulu-Togagae saw his pass picked off by Brierley who zipped like a greyhound for his 26th try of the season.

Eagles continued to pressure Leigh over the third quarter but Centurions held firm and ran riot in the last 20 minutes.

It started when Kay danced around Misi Taulapapa for his hat-trick.

Tommy Goulden fended his way through the line for Ridyard to complete his eight goal haul, but Leigh were not finished.

Great vision by Sean Penkywicz put Kay on the outside for his fourth try with Brierley bringing the half-century up with the conversion.

With six minutes remaining, Penkywicz picked his way through the defence and although Sheffield clawed a try back before the end when Michael Knowles kicked through for Taulapapa and Pat Walker goaled, Eagles were a distant second best.

Leigh: McNally; Pownall, Pitman, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Spencer, Beswick, Barlow, Haggerty, Goulden, Bate. Subs: Penkywicz, Acton, Emmitt, Wilkes.

Attendance: 1,151.