Leigh Centurions 34 Rochdale Hornets 22

The crowd at Leigh Sports Village had barely found their usual spots when the hosts went 4-0 up thanks to good link-up play between Tommy Goulden and Tom Armstrong before Liam Kay ran half the length of the field for the first of his two tries.

Although Martyn Ridyard missed the conversion, he struck a further five goals to add to his season tally and kicked a 40-20 that laid the foundation for the Centurions second try.

That came on 15 minutes when Ryan Brierley found Kay with a booming pass left.

Ridyard then turned the ball inside on 26 minutes for Gregg McNally to speed away from 40 metres and Ridyard converted to make it 16-0.

After seeing an earlier effort slip through his fingers, Gaz Langley pulled a try back for the Hornets in the corner thanks to a kick from Paul Crook.

But Leigh finished the half on top when Kay broke down the left, Ridyard followed and Brierley took the pass from his half-back partner to go over by the posts to make it 22-4 at half-time.

Leigh dominated again after the break and Goulden had a try disallowed while Adam Higson was also brought back as he sped clear down the touchline.

Hornets stuck to their task, however, and Adam Bowman pulled a try back after 48 minutes.

Crook converted and although Leigh went half the length of the field after a Rochdale mistake, Brierley doubling his try tally for the game, the visitors refused to buckle.

Jamie Acton for Leigh and Tony Suffolk of Hornets were sinbinned just after the hour and this spurred the visitors on.

Chris Baines grounded a grubber kick for a try before lovely slight of hand by Crook, who also had atry ruled out, led to Danny Davies sailing under the posts.

But Centurions wrestled control of the game back to score near the end through Tom Armstrong.

Ridyard nailed the touchline kick to make the game safe for the hosts, but fell short in the final minute after Langley was put on report for a blatant trip on Brierley.