Leigh 28 Hull FC 16.

Josh Charnley served-up a two-try display to end an emotional week with an important contribution to Leigh’s seventh successive Super League victory.

The Leopards’ winger was the key witness in the disciplinary hearing that handed down a 12-game ban to Warrington’s Australian forward, Josh McGuire.

But with the case behind him Charners moved back to the top of the competition’s try scoring list with 18 touch downs as Adrian Lam’s side gained a first home win over FC for 35 years.

Gareth O’Brien notched a try and achieved three assists with further tries coming from Tom Briscoe and Joe Mellor.

But it wasn’t until Mellor’s final minute effort Leigh finally breathed easily. And the defensive effort, crucial in the Magic Weekend win over Wakefield, came to the fore in the final quarter.

Leigh’s latest success lifted the side upto third, level on points with Catalans and Warrington.

Lam’s in form side almost scored a sensational opening try after eight minutes via their productive left edge. Lachlan Lam, Ricky Leutele (twice) and Charnley were all involved before Edwin Ipape’s surge for the line was ended by a knock on.

Leopards continued to stalk the visitors’ try line and full-back O’Brien, scorer of two touchdowns on his last home appearance against Warrington, collected the final pass to cross after 12 minutes.

Zak Hardaker kicked four from four when deputising for Ben Reynolds at Newcastle. And in the suspended half back’s absence, he kicked the conversion and added a 16th minute penalty after Brad Fash’s high shot on Mellor.

Leigh were in irresistible form and added a 26th minute second try after earning a repeat set in front of the Hull posts.

Moving the ball to their right edge O’Brien ran into the line again and was provider this time for ex Black and Whites winger, Briscoe.

But Hull quickly hit back through Adam Swift. The former St Helens winger, who enjoyed the briefest of loan spells at LSV in 2019, took Liam Sutcliffe’s pass to touch down for an unconverted score.

Leigh responded accordingly as O’Brien found another assist, this time for Charnley to score his 17th try of the season.

Hull, however, proved durable opponents with ex Huddersfield favourite Darnell McIntosh producing an outstanding finish five minutes from the break.

Aussie playmaker Jake Clifford suffered a heavy tackle in the build-up and had to leave the field for an HIA he eventually failed.

Referee Ben Thaler pulled out respective captains Asiata and Tuimavave prior to the re-start.

And the official repeated the lecture soon after as Brad Dwyer clattered into O’Brien behind the North Stand posts.

A testy contest led to Hardaker kicking Leigh into a two-score lead with an early second half penalty.

And 18-0 became 22-0 when Charnley accepted O’Brien’s latest assist to grab his second try. Hardaker missed his third goal from out wide.

Hull though refused to be shaken off and Josh Griffin followed up his Magic Weekend treble against Warrington with a 59th minute effort via Jake Trueman’s off load.

With the exception of Mellor’s last gasp touchdown that ended the scoring but the pulsating contest didn’t relent in a gripping last quarter.

Leigh: O’Brien; Charnley, Leutele, Hardaker, Briscoe; Mellor, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O’Donnell, Holmes, Asiata; substitutes: Seumanufagai, Wilde, Davis, Norman.

Tries: O’Brien (12), Briscoe (26), Charnley (30, 54), Mellor (80).

Goals: Hardaker 4/7.

Hull FC: Hoy; Swift, Sutcliffe, Tuimavave, McIntosh; Trueman, Clifford; Fash, Houghton, Taylor, Griffin, Lane, Cator; substitutes: Brown, Dwyer, Sao, Savelio.

Tries: Swift (26), McIntosh (33), Griffin (59).

Goals: Clifford 0/1, Sutcliffe 2/2.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Half-time: 16-10.

Attendance: 6,006.