LEIGH Centurions leapfrogged Featherstone Rovers at the top of the Betfred Championship after dominant win over the former leaders at the Leigh Sports Village.
A crowd of 4,225 saw Leigh get off to a cracking start when Keanan Brand sent Krisnan Inu over in the corner for a fifth-minute lead.
That set the tone with John Asiata following him over the whitewash with Inu converting.
Rovers responded through Mark Kheirallah’s try and goal.
But midway into the first half Blake Ferguson collected a lofted kick on the right flank for a well-executed score.
Two Inu penalties before the break made it 18-6 to the Centurions.
Rovers came out in determined fashion and scored through Connor Jones, Kheirallah converting.
But on the hour mark former Australian test ace Ferguson struck when he collected a loose ball to sneak over for his second.
Another Inu penalty stretched the lead before hooker Edwin Ipape brought the house down when he burst through two tackles score.
Inu kicked his fifth goal of the evening.
A yellow card for Featherstone’s Matty Wildie was followed by a red for Leigh’s Inu for his high tackle on Johnathan Ford.
Rovers’ Sam Eseh also saw red card in an eventful ending.
Ben Reynolds kicked a penalty to wrap up the scoring at 32-12.
Leigh Centurions: Aekins, Ferguson, Brand, Chamberlain, Inu, Reynolds, Hingano, Sidlow (C), Smith, Amone, Stone, Wardle, Asiata. Subs: O’Donnell, Ipape, Ioane, Jones.
Tries: Inu, Asiata, Ferguson (2), Ipape.
Goals: Inu (5) Reynolds.
Featherstone Rovers: Kheirallah, Briscoe, Leilua, Jones, Gale, Smith, Jacks, Kopczak, Wildie, Cooper, Hellewell, Davies, Moors. Subs: Ford, Hepi, Eseh, Ferres.
Tries: Kheirallah, Jones.
Goals: Kheirallah (2).
Attendance: 4226.
Pictures: Richard Walker
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