ELECTRIC Leigh sent records tumbling but even a 13-try, 72-20 rout of Sheffield Eagles still couldn’t lift Centurions into the top four of the Betfred Championship.

Such a breakthrough is surely only a matter of time though after the visitors demolished their South Yorkshire hosts at Olympic Legacy Park.

Never in the club’s history have Leigh scored 50 points in the first half of a game.

But that all changed as Leigh went points crazy in the opening 40 minutes. It seemed a formality the record score of 92-2 against Keighley 32 years ago would also be topped.

Instead, Kieron Purtill’s charges added ‘only’ 22 more in the second period en route to a sixth successive league and cup success.

Craig Hall took his tally to 10 in seven games with a four try haul, including a hat-trick in around five minutes.

It’s yet to be verified as another club best though it remains one of the fastest in the sport’s history. Greg Eden’s triple in a 38-0 whitewash of Leigh last season was timed at exactly five minutes.

Prior to Sunday’s game, Leigh had scored 48 points in a first half in their club record victory over Keighley in 1986 and their 74-0 win at London Skolars in 2006.

They notched 47 first half points at Featherstone Rovers in 2004 on their way to a 75-20 victory and 46 first-half points on three separate occasions.

Hall was one of eight try scorers while Ben Reynolds kicked 10 goals to take his personal points tally to 38 in two games.

Leigh’s latest win leaves them still knocking on the door of the top four where Toulouse Olympique were the surprise casualties at Batley.

On his team’s latest success Purtill said: “For me the most pleasing thing for the group and the team was the attitude in the first half.

“We spoke about how this came coming after Easter can catch you a little bit but we turned up with a great attitude and rolled that first half with an impressive performance.”

Winger Matty Dawson-Jones started the romp from a Peter Mata’utia assist before the latter helped himself to a brace of quick fire tries.

The points just kept on coming as Hall bagged his treble in the blink of an eye. Kyle Lovett, Jack Owens and Liam Hood also touched down before the break as Eagles broke their duck courtesy of winger Ryan Millar.

The home side also scored the first two tries of the second period through James Bentley and Oscar Thomas.

However, Hall boosted his try total to four and Drew Hutchison also joined in the spree prior to Eagles final try from Blake Broadbent.

But it was Kevin Larroyer who had the last word and there was nothing unlucky about Leigh’s 13th and final try.

Sheffield Eagles: Makelim; Macani, Bentley, Blackmore, Millar; Thomas, Brown; Offerdahl, Burns, Magrin, Ashworth, Davies, Fozard; substitutes: Igbinedion, Moran, Garcia, Broadbent.

Tries: Miller (40), Bentley (48), Thomas (52), Broadbent (62)

Goals: Thomas 2/4

Leigh Centurions: Mata’utia, Dawson-Jones, Crooks, Hall, Owens; Reynolds, Hutchison; Mason, Hood, Acton, Hansen, B Thompson, J Thompson. Substitutes: Higham, Richards, Larroyer, Lovett.

Tries: Dawson-Jones (4), Mata’utia (9, 14), Hall (18, 21, 23, 55), Lovett (29), Owens (35, 68), Hood (38), Hutchison (56), Larroyer (73).

Goals: Reynolds 10/13

Half-time: 4-50

Referee: Tom Grant

Attendance: 982