Bristow try spree is just the trick for Leigh

SKIPPER Adam Bristow scored his first hat-trick for the club as the Centurions marched into third place in the NFP table writes Mike Hulme

Loose-forward Bristow was one of several key men as Leigh sent the Dragons spinning to their first home league defeat for five months.

Simon Svabic, playing full-back for the injured Neil Turley, also turned in a polished performace in his first appearance at number one since his Salford days. Svabic finished with a try, five goals and a field goal as the Centurions opened the second half of the league season with a second successive win.

Leigh were never behind but each time they opened up a substantial lead, the battling Dragons hit back. Three times Doncaster closed the gap to two points before Leigh finished strongly with nine points in the final seven minutes. The Centurions took an eighth minute lead with the first of Bristow's treble and went 10-2 up when Jon Roper shook off three tacklers to force his way over for Leigh's second try. A Tony Atter try and a second Johnny Woodcock goal cut the lead to 10-8 before Leigh went in for the break leading 16-8 when Svabic went in from dummy half and added the goal points.

Another Leigh handling error gave Doncaster the chance to make it 16-14 early in the second half, Jason Lee sprinting clear for a six-pointer. But from the re-start the Dragons also coughed up possession and Leigh made them pay as Bristow went in for his second.

Leigh's saw their lead cut to two points once more when Dale Cardoza's diagonal bomb was fumbled and Chris Ross went over. But going into the final quarter Leigh showed their class. John Duffy stretched over from close in after Swann had split the Dragons. Svabic's 73rd minute field goal edged Leigh into a seven point lead.

Three minutes from time Bristow went over for his third and Svabic tagged on the extras. Svabic took Leigh out to 35 points with a last minute penalty.