Hunslet Hawks 10, Leigh Centurions 68 by Mike Hulme

LEIGH Centurions duly cemented runners-up spot in the NFP to set up a mouth-watering play-off clash with Minor Premiers Huddersfield next month.

Leigh's victory, their ninth in a row, was convincing enough at the end, but for over 40 minutes they were pushed to the limit by the enthusiastic Hawks.

After sweeping into a 10-2 lead inside 14 minutes with tries from Dale Cardoza and Simon Baldwin, Leigh found themselves pegged back to 10-10 with just six minutes of the half left.

Some quick thinking by Simon Svabic to get Oli Marns over out wide gave Leigh a 16-10 interval lead but there was no indication of the onslaught that was to come.

"It did take us a while to adjust to the narrow and short pitch," said coach Paul Terzis. "We adjusted our game plan accordingly and it paid off in the second half."

And how it paid off, as Leigh ruthlessly swept the Hawks aside with a burst of nine unanswered second half tries.

Centre Cardoza finished with a hat-trick to take his tally to seven in just four games, since signed from Doncaster, while hooker Paul Rowley chipped in with a couple, after coming on at half time.

Leigh's other touchdowns in this unforgettable landslide victory came from Adam Bristow, Svabic, Mark McCully, Eric Andrews and Andy Isherwood with Svabic also landing a majestic total of 10 goals from12 attempts.

RESULTS

Tetley's Super League: Castleford 44 Bradford 14, Hull 60 Salford 16

Northern Ford Premiership: Barrow 24 Hull K R 24, Chorley Lynx 14 Rochdale 60, Dewsbury 20 Batley 24, Doncaster 35 Keighley 10, Gateshead 18 Huddersfield 50, Hunslet 10 Leigh 68, Oldham 35 Workington 10, Sheffield 24 Swinton 21