LEIGH Centurions are through to the semi finals of the Northern Rail Cup at the expense of Widnes Vikings.

Ian Millward's men rallied with 44 unanswered points in a scoring pattern that mirrored the Championship clash of 11 days earlier.

Widnes were still in the hunt until the 59th minute mark when Tommy Goulden pounced on Jamie Ellis' grubber kick to put Leigh 36-18 in the clear.

There was no stopping Leigh after that.

The game was finely balanced at 24-18 when Chris Gerrard had a try ruled out for Vikings after an obstruction from Dave Allen in the build-up.

Three minutes later, a break from Lee Mitchell - a surprise selection at prop with a fresh dual registration deal from Warrington Wolves - broke away from a Mick Govin pass and handed over to Ellis to fire over for his second try.

That put Leigh in the ascendancy at 30-18 and Vikings needed the next score but Goulden's strike was crucial.

After that, ex-Vikings players John Duffy and David Mills rounded off the scoring for Leigh, who had been under the cosh from Vikings in the first 23 minutes.

A forward-looking Martyn Ridyard pass sent Dean McGilvray flying down the left wing and his kick inside was touched down by Ellis for the opening score on five minutes but then Widnes took a grip of things.

Two tries from powerful prop Ben Kavanagh in the 12th and 16th minutes put Vikings in front and former Leigh back rower Macgraff Leuluai extended the visitors' lead when he pounced on a grubber from Chaz I'Anson in the 18th minute.

Kavanagh was held up over the line as Vikings threatened again.

The momentum changed when both Steve Pickersgill and Simon Finningan had to leave the field together with cuts from a clash of heads.

In the next seven minutes tries from Steve Maden, Tom Armstrong and Mills together with two conversions from Mick Nanyn turned an 18-6 deficit into a 22-18 half-time cushion for Leigh.

That gave Leigh a psychological advantage for the turnaround and they made the most of it.