Leigh Centurions 52 Gateshead Thunder 4
COACH Paul Terzis had the luxury of leaving out seven of his frontline stars and still see the Centurions pick up their 12th successive NFP win and increase their lead at the top of the table to three points writes Mike Hulme
The quality and depth of Leigh's squad gave a rare opportunity for the likes of Phil Kendrick to shine. Kendrick, who flits between second row and centre with equal ease, scored his first ha-trick for the club and went on to collect the coach's man of the match award.
"Phil shows what this club is all about. He's had to be patient for his chance, but when it came along he's taken it with both hands," said a delighted Terzis.
Leigh now head into a key month when they play fellow title contenders Doncaster, Keighley, Widnes and Dewsbury but Terzis is relishing the challenge.
"We know we've got some tough games on the horizon but we've proved this season that we can handle the pressure of being top of the table and being favourites. They don't scare us."
Gateshead, without a win all season and on their first-ever visit to Hilton Park, tried hard but were hopelessly outclassed as Leigh rattled up 10 tries without really breaking sweat.
They had two tries on the board inside four minutes with Aussie winger Michael Watts finishing off good work by Jason Johnson and Dave Bradbury and then Liam Bretherton swooping in at the corner from Willie Swann's accurate kick. Two touchline goals from Simon Svabic made it 12-0.
Johnson added a third try after 12 minutes and Leigh were on their way to another landslide victory. But surprisingly they only managed to add one more first half try, Kendrick powering through for the first of his treble.
Gateshead, for all their effort, only came close once when Carl Briggs' bomb set up a try in the corner for Wes McGibbon.
Leigh found something approaching their best form in the second half and in the space of just nine minutes Kendrick had completed his hat-trick and Leigh were coasting at 32-4.
Enter Neil Turley. Leigh's try machine suddenly burst into life and in just 12 minutes crossed for a hat-trick to take his season's tally to an astonishing 27.
Leigh's 10th and final try was made and finished in Oz. Prop Jamie Gass opened the defence and Watts beat six men on a weaving run to the line to take Leigh beyond 50 points for the fourth time.
Leigh: Turley, Jones, Johnson, Bretherton, Watts, Svabic, Purtill, Gass, Roden, Bradbury, Kendrick, Bristow, Swann. Subs: Whittle, Morley, Hamilton, Ingram.
Attendance: 2,242.
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