Leigh 16-20 Hull KR: Shaun Lunt brace helps Rovers stun Centurions
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 12/08/17 7:05pm
Shaun Lunt scored twice as Championship side Hull KR claimed a thrilling 20-16 win over Leigh Centurions, the team which replaced them in Super League this season.
The hooker went in for a try in each half - his second with just five minutes of the game remaining - to seal a memorable win for the Robins.
Leigh, who started their Super 8 Qualifiers campaign with a convincing win at Featherstone a week ago, dominated the early exchanges but had to wait for the 12th minute for their first try.
Lachlan Burr sent Harrison Hansen through a gap and Daniel Mortimer was in support to race to the tryline from 25 metres. Josh Drinkwater added the conversion.
But Hull KR, who won at Leigh Sports Village in the Challenge Cup back in April, started to enjoy more possession and levelled the scores 10 minutes before half-time.
Hooker Lunt spun away from the Leigh defence at dummy half and scored from close range. Ellis kicked the conversion to make it 6-6.
The home side regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Drinkwater kicked a penalty.
Leigh added another two points to their lead 11 minutes after the restart when Lee Jewitt was penalised for hitting out at Centurions full-back Gregg McNally. Drinkwater kicked the penalty from 30 metres for a 10-6 lead.
But as the game entered the final quarter, Hull KR levelled the scores at 10-10 as a high kick to the corner from Ellis was collected by Ryan Shaw who just managed to touch down.
Ellis, who spent a season on loan at Leigh from St Helens in 2011, kicked the touchline conversion and also added a penalty soon after to make it 14-10 to the visitors.
Leigh regained the lead 11 minutes from full-time as Drinkwater's pass put Atelea Vea through a gap and he powered over the line, with Drinkwater's conversion clipping the upright on its way over to make 16-14.
There was still time for another twist and with seven minutes remaining, Lunt sneaked in from close range for a try which Ellis converted.
Leigh had opportunities in the dying moments but they failed to create a clear scoring chance against some determined Hull KR defence.