Tom Armstrong scored a hat-trick as Leigh Centurions clinched the Kingstone Press Championship Leaders Shield in emphatic style with a seven-try victory against nearest rivals Featherstone Rovers at the Sports Village on Friday.

The Centurions fired out of the blocks and opened the scoring with a Martyn Ridyard penalty after five minutes.

From the restart quick hands from Gregg McNally released Liam Kay and the winger did everything right before Armstrong, pictured, ran in for a great try, which Ridyard converted.

There was no stopping the Centurions when Sean Penkywicz scored a dazzling individual effort from 10 metres with Ridyard adding the extras to give the hosts a 14-0 lead.

Ridyard was heavily involved in the next Centurions score when he and McNally put Armstrong over for his second try.

Just when Leigh thought they had the game, Rovers struck back with two quickfire tries.

The first went the way of Andy Ellis who picked his way over from dummy half before Jason Crookes proved too strong from close range.

Two conversions from Gareth Moore made it 20-12 but Leigh settled their nerves when Armstrong was felled in pursuit of his hat-trick and Ridyard booted a penalty to make it 22-12 at the break.

Four minutes into the second half, Armstrong struck for his third taking an offload from Matty Sarsfield and Ridyard’s conversion made it 28-12.

Leigh looked dominant but Rovers struck again when Moore broke and Greg Worthington scored.

The hosts responded immediately when Sam Barlow ran the ball past two defenders and grounded with Ridyard added the extras and a penalty.

Rovers tried to break through but Centurions defended magnificently and scored again late on when Jamie Acton charged through for his first try of the season.

Ridyard completed his personal tally of 10 goals with a difficult conversion from Adam Higson touch down late on as Centurions secured a 48-18 victory.