Tuesday 6 September 2016 14:24, UK
Leigh took a giant step towards securing a place in next season's Super League with a 25-18 win at Hull KR.
It was their fourth win from four games in the Middle 8s and the second time this season a Championship side had come to the Lightstream Stadium and left with a win after Oldham knocked Rovers out of the Challenge Cup.
The defeat is another bump in the road for Rovers who issued a statement prior to kick-off stating Albert Kelly had been suspended for returning back to the club late following a trip back to Australia for personal reasons.
Rovers started strongly by posting a 12-0 lead, but they were blown away by Leigh who scored 22 unanswered points to take control of the game.
The game was in the balance right up until the closing stages but Leigh showed great character to close out for the win that maintains their 100 per cent record in the Qualifiers.
Leigh got in the faces of their hosts right from the start, but it backfired as referee Robert Hicks penalised them for over stepping the boundary once too often. Josh Mantellato kicked the Robins into a 2-0 lead early on as Leigh were put on a team warning.
Rovers kept their high-tempo start going and were rewarded in the sixth minute when, after forcing a goal line drop out, Ken Sio scored the game's first try. The wet conditions affected Mantellato's conversion attempt which failed to hit the target.
The Italy international was unable to convert his own try in the 14th minute as Leigh already looked a beaten team.
Another penalty gave Mantellato the chance to make it 12-0 which he did with ease. But Mantellato's missed goals kept Leigh within reach and when Sam Hopkins burrowed his way over the Rovers try line, it was game on. Martin Ridyard's conversion reduced Leigh's arrears to 12-6 going into the break.
Leigh started the second half in the same threatening manner as they finished the first, and were rewarded when Andrew Dixon strolled through the Rovers defence to score. Ridyard's conversion tied the score up at 12-12.
Leigh were on top and deservedly went in front for the first time in the game shortly thereafter. Matty Dawson capitalised on a Ben Cockayne handling error from a high ball right in front of his own tryline, and though Ridyard missed the conversation, Leigh led 16-12.
Leigh took a firm hold of the game three minutes later when Josh Drinkwater scored under the posts following a superb offload from former Robin Cory Paterson.
Marsh gave Rovers a lifeline by supporting Cockayne's break to finish a break down their left. Mantellato's conversion left four points between the sides with 13 minutes to play.
Ridyard's penalty from 30 metres gave Leigh a six-point cushion going into the final 10 minutes.
Rovers chance went when Dane Tilse knocked on trying to gather a pass with three and a half minutes to play, and to compound the misery they were experiencing, Ridyard dropped a goal to seal the win for the jubilant Centurions.
