LEIGH CENTURIONS 60 BARROW RAIDERS 0

FREE-SCORING Leigh Centurions claimed another 11 tries in their latest Kingstone Press Championship victory with Liam Kay writing his name in the record books with five.

This victory was even more remarkable given it was Centurions' third game in nine gruelling days and Leigh appeared the fresher of the teams as the game went on.

For 34 minutes this was a contest with Barrow slowing the game perfectly and unlucky not to have something on the board as the Centurions defence held firm.

Leigh had taken the lead after four minutes when the recalled Andy Thornley, playing centre for the first time in his Leigh career, was pivotal to a runaround with Martyn Ridyard and Kay finished at the corner.

Centurions doubled their advantage with Kay’s second after 17 minutes with Gregg McNally providing the final pass.

In between those tries Barrow player boss Bobbie Goulding intercepted but couldn’t put his support away and Liam Campbell saw the ball go loose after creating an opening.

Trailing by eight points Barrow launched a further attack with Dan Toal twice kicking on but Leigh took care of the danger posed by their former fullback and then claimed three quick tries before half-time.

The first of those came to Thornley, who bumped through a couple of defenders to go over the line from 15 metres for Ridyard to add the first of eight goals.

It was a memorable afternoon for Ridyard, who bossed the Leigh attack on his 150th appearance and moved beyond 1,000 points for the club.

Ryan Brierley was next on the scoresheet after Penkywicz and Ridyard did all the running with Ridyard moving the score out to 20-0 before a fifth try came in the dying seconds of the half after a determined run by McNally saw Kay go in for his hat-trick to make it 24-0.

Despite the Raiders seeing more possession at the start of the second half, it was all inside their own territory and there was no surprise when the Leigh left sprung from deep and finished with skipper Oliver Wilkes sending Kay away for his fourth.

Anthony Bate put Sam Hopkins over for a good try before another bit of Penkywicz magic brought the hooker another four points after the hour mark. Three more tries followed in the final 15 minutes as Leigh cut loose.

Andy Thornley sliced through on the left hand side for Brierley to support for his 29th try of the season before Johnny Pownall joined the list of scorers six minutes from time.

Just as the game appeared to have died off, Centurions struck for final try when Thornley popped the ball out for Kay to claim his fifth. Ridyard converted from the touchline to complete his and the Centurions haul.

Leigh: McNally, Pownall, Hankinson, Thornley, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Spencer, Beswick, Wilkes, Sarsfield, Goulden, Barlow. Subs: Penkywicz, Acton, Bate, Emmitt.

Referee: Mr D Merrick.