CHORLEY Lynx provided one of the biggest shocks for a long time when they turned the formbook upside down to defeat Super League hopefuls Leigh Centurions.

This victory gives Lynx a great chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Arriva Trains Cup with just one group game left next Sunday when they travel to Workington.

Lynx fully deserved their victory, with Martin Gambles again showing quality finishing with his second hat-trick in successive games.

Lynx were dominant from the start and took a third minute lead with a Mark McCully penalty after a high tackle.

It was only a matter of time before Lynx increased their lead in the 16th minute when Wayne Bloor and Mike Briggs combined to send in Gambles for an excellent try, Mark McCully adding the conversion.

Leigh were almost non-existent as an attacking force as Chorley continued to press forward looking to increase their advantage.

Leigh finally got a toehold in the game in the 28th minute when the Lynx defence failed to deal with a Lee Sanderson bomb and Adam Bristow as on hand to pick up the loose ball and touchdown.

This setback failed to rattle Lynx as they still continued to press forward but the only chance to increase their lead came four minutes from the break, but McCully put his penalty effort wide to leave Lynx with a 8-4 half-time advantage.

Leigh had all the early pressure in the second half and were rewarded three minutes into the half with a try and conversion from Neil Turley.

Lynx hit back when Martin Gambles was on hand to intercept a would-be Leigh pass to go over unopposed from halfway inside the Leigh half, Mark McCully adding the conversion.

Leigh were having far more possession than in the first half and again edged ahead in the 55th minute when Paul Rowley sent Lee Sanderson through a gap to touch down with Turley again adding the conversion.

Despite falling behind again Lynx still looked the better side and were ahead again in the 61st minute when Briggs managed to scamper his way over the Leigh try line.

Five minutes later Lynx edged further ahead when McCully took advantage of a mix-up in the Leigh defence to touch down.

Three minutes later Lynx's cause was helped further when Dale Cordoza was sent off after flooring Sarfraz Patel with a right hook in an off-the-ball incident. Lynx made them pay immediately when Martin Gambles completed his hat-trick after good play by Mark McCully, with McCully himself adding the conversion.

From the re-start Leigh handed themselves a lifeline when they made Lynx pay for a knock-on with Patrick Weisner touching down and Neil Turley adding the conversion.

Lynx finished the stronger and completed the scoring with a drop goal from John Braddish and a McCully penalty on the final hooter for a deserved victory.

CHORLEY LYNX...31 LEIGH CENTURIONS...22