Leigh 66 Doncaster 10: Dons unable to mar Centurions’ big day

THE Championship’s top versus bottom clash went exactly to script as Leigh celebrated winning their second Leaders Shield in as many seasons with a comfortable win over Doncaster.

Liam Kay led the way with five tries against the club he had a spell with on dual registration from Wakefield.

Leigh, unbeaten at the Sports Village for two seasons, took the lead when Kay scored in the corner from Mathias Pala’s pass.

Ryan Brierley and Gregg McNally then combined to send Adam Higson in at the opposite corner, Martyn Ridyard goaled.

Doncaster responded when a kick to the corner by Paul Mennell was pounced on by winger Peter Fox.

But Leigh hit back with two tries in three minutes.

Kay scored a second after chasing down Ridyard’s kick then he set up Gregg McNally with a mazy run up the touchline. Ridyard again improved.

Centurions produced a stunning spell at the start of the second half, scoring three tries without Doncaster touching the ball.

Brierley started the sequence with an interception before further tries from McNally and Kay.

Leigh added more tries through Gareth Hock, Ridyard and Kay before Doncaster fashioned a reply from Liam Welham seven minutes from the end which Curtis Naughton converted.

But there was still time for Kay to score his fifth try with Ben Reynolds also scoring. Ridyard kicked nine goals from 11 attempts

Leigh Centurions: McNally, Higson, Worthington, Pala, Kay, Ridyard, Brierley, Acton, Higham, Emmitt, Dixon, Goulden, Hock. Substitutes: Reynolds, Wilkes, Barlow, Aspinwall.

Doncaster: Naughton, Scott, Cowling, Welham, Fox, McLochlan, Mennell, Verlinden, esik, Clark, Kelly, Mussolino, Emmett. Subs: Wright, Carnutt, Tagaloa, Foster

Referee: Andy Sweet.