RYAN Brierley scored a second-half hat-trick as Leigh retained the league leaders shield with a 40-24 win over Dewsbury in their rearranged Kingstone Press Championship match at Leigh Sports Village last night.
Centre Tom Armstrong put the Centurions on their way to their 20th win of the season when he opened the scoring in the first set of the match with the first of their seven tries.
Winger Liam Kay added a second to make it 12-0 but the visitors struck back with tries either side of half-time through substitute Joel Farrell and Dale Morton, both goaled by Brad Delaney, to level the scores.
Leigh reasserted their authority with three tries in seven minutes, two of them from Brierley and one from Ben Reynolds, deputising for the rested Martyn Ridyard, who also kicked six goals.
Brierley then completed his hat-trick and Sam Hopkins added another try, with Ryan Fieldhouse and Farrell grabbing consolation efforts for the Rams.
The Centurions will be presented with the trophy after their final match of the regular season at home to bottom club Doncaster on Sunday.
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