PROUD dad Mark Ioane couldn’t quite manage a try double to mark the recent birth of twins but Leigh’s return to winning ways was further reason for him to celebrate.

Ioane and his partner welcomed the recent arrivals into the world last week and the sleepless nights are yet to come judging by the front row’s man of the match display.

After labouring through the opening 40 minutes, Adrian Lam’s side turned on the style after half-time to complete a convincing success to ease the memories of last week’s defeat at Featherstone.

Leading 8-4 at the break Ioane was one of six second half try scorers to make it two Championship wins from three under new boss Lam.

Jy Hitchcox and Dan Norman touched down on debut, Keanan Brand and Ed Chamberlain grabbed braces while Nene Macdonald took his tally to five tries in three games.

Bradford finished well beaten and with only 12 men after David Foggin-Johnston’s late high tackle on Aaron Smith.

Leigh Journal:

Lam rang the changes after defeat at Post Office Road with wingers Kieran Dixon and Tom Nisbet missing out.

There was, however, a return following illness in the front row against one of his former sides for co-captain, Adam Sidlow.

After a set for set opening 10 minutes, Leigh opened the scoring with a slick try from Brand. Chamberlain’s flicked final pass was a top drawer assist to Brand.

Ben Reynolds hit the post with his first conversion attempt of the night.

This season’s clampdown on head shots led to a 15th minute sin binning for Bulls prop Anthony Walker and a concussion assessment for loose forward, John Asiata.

Despite the one-man advantage, Leigh were pegged back after 21 minutes as Kieran Gill crashed over from Dec Patton’s pass. Patton missed the kick.

Ioane regularly made line-breaking runs and the Bulls’ defence did well to hold him up over the try and then deny Caleb Aekins as the full-back surged for the whitewash.

Leigh Journal:

But it was third time lucky as Sam Stone and Aekins linked to send over Chamberlain for his first try for the club. Reynolds couldn’t add the extras.

That advantage became 12-4 after 46 minutes as Leigh, off the back of their latest penalty, moved the ball right to left at speed.

Leigh Journal:

Reynolds’ final pass gives Hitchcox a walk-in try. Chamberlain took on the kicking duties but dragged his kick wide.

Leigh were now starting to gain the ascendancy and no one deserved his try more than Ioane. Latching onto Mellor’s offload, he cut back on a diagonal run to the line.

Chamberlain finally found accuracy from the tee.

And it was game over after 64 minutes as Centurions worked the ball right for Keanan Brand to notch his second try of the game.

Leigh hadn’t finished and boosted their points tally with further tries in the last seven minutes from Macdonald, dual registration Saints forward Norman and Chamberlain on the final hooter.

Leigh Journal:

Teams: Leigh 38: Aekins; Hitchcox, Chamberlain, Macdonald, Brand; Reynolds, Mellor, Sidlow, Smith, Amone, Wardle, Stone, Asiata’ subs (all used): Ioane, Hingano, McDonnell, Norman.

Tries: Brand (2), Chamberlain (2), Hitchcox, Ioane, Macdonald, Norman.

Goals: Reynolds 0/2, Chamberlain 3/6.

Bradford 4: Millar; Dawson-Jones, Evans, Gill, Foggin-Johnston; Patton, Jowitt; Walker, Doyle, Crossley, England, Scott, Baldwinson; subs (all used): Flanagan, Butler, Wallace, Evans.

Tries: Gill.

Goals: Patton 0/1 Referee: Aaron Moore Attendance: 2,706