JOE Mellor has revealed his first thoughts after ton-up Leigh’s record-breaking win over York was to ‘say sorry’ to the opposition.

Mellor scored his first hat-trick for seven years as one of 13 different try scorers in Centurions’ 100-4 rout of the City Knights.

Adrian Lam’s Championship leaders plundered five tries in the final seven minutes to reach three figures including Aaron Smith’s touchdown before the hooter.

It was Leigh’s highest ever score, topping a 92-2 win over Keighley in 1986, York’s worst defeat while Krisnan Inu’s haul of 16 goals bettered Mick Stacey’s tally of 15 against Doncaster in 1976.

Inu now leads the division in goals (115) and points scored (306).

“I am probably too nice because I apologised to most of them at the end,” said co-captain Mellor.

“I have been on the end of a few hidings and while nothing like this, it is not nice getting beat by that scoreline.

“They were fed up and I didn’t see any of them afterwards. From our perspective, we were very proud because getting to 100 is quite unheard of.

“After the last try but one, Adam Sidlow was trying to get us back quickly. I said to him ‘do you want the 100?’.

“We just said we will play straight from the kick-off and managed to get it done.”

In York’s defence, they arrived with an understrength squad, stripped of key performers, including Ata Hingano who wasn’t allowed to play against his parent club, and a place in the play-offs already guaranteed.

Coach James Ford later criticised his team’s lack of desire and effort.

However, Mellor said: “From a York perspective they might have given up.

“But there was a lot of skill involved in our tries with players offloading and teammates in the right place at the right time.

“Everything we tried came off. Some team was going to get it and unfortunately for them, it was York.”

Leigh have won 23 of their 24 league games and next up welcome Widnes – one of Mellor’s former clubs – to Leigh Sports Village on Sunday.

“Even though we have just scored 100, that won’t get spoken about now. We will just focus on the next game.

“Widnes can’t make the play-offs but they will have a go because John Kear has got them playing better than they were,” added Mellor, who is forging a half-back pairing with Lachlan Lam during Ben Reynolds’ enforced injury lay-off.

“The style we play suits us both. Adrian wants us running the ball and that’s what we are both capable of.”

Sunday’s match will be the third between the teams in 2022, with Leigh winning both previous encounters.

For Leigh v York match pictures, see page 17