Chorley Lynx 4 Leigh Cent 56

IT'S been quite a week for young Neil Turley. Following his New Years' day hat-trick against Swinton, the Leigh full-back yesterday grabbed five tries as the Centurions demolished lowly Chorley, writes Mike Hulme

Turley also added eight goals for a personal tally of 36 points - just two short of equalling the club record set by John Woods.

Woods scored 38 points on two occasions, against Blackpool in 1977 and York in eight years ago.

Turley was also one try short of joining Jack Wood as the scorer of most tries in a match. Wood touched down six times against York back in 1947. But Turley did have the consolation of scoring most tries in a game for a full-back.

With little defensive work to take care of, Turley was able to join the attack almost at will. Three of his five tries came in the final 11 minutes as Leigh punished a tiring defence.

Suitably modest, Turley said: "Of course I'm pleased, not only for me but for the team. But there is still a great deal of room for improvement."

Leigh had little trouble maintaining their winning start to the season - it's now five from five - but they know they could quite easily have doubled their points total but for some indifferent finishing and handling.

Turley opened their 10-try account after 10 minutes when he was sent in by stan-off John Duffy. When Simon Baldwin was stopped just short, hooker John Hamilton forced his way over for tries in successive games.

Alan Hadcroft went over for the third and Turley collected his second after good work from Liam Bretherton and Duffy. Tim Street completed the first half scoring as he took Turley's pass to crash over for a 26-0 lead.

Chorley, despite the obvious limitations, made things difficult for Leigh. Sub Radney Bowker had crossed for Leigh again before Chorley's moment to savour came when ex-Leigh centre Graham Taberner got over in the corner.

But normal service was resumed shortly afterwards when sub Paul Anderson went over in the 64th minute.

And the final 11 minutes belong entirely to Turley who scored three more tries and three goals. LEIGH: Turley; Hadcroft, Kendrick, Fairclough, Jones; Duffy, Bretherton; Street, Hamilton, Leathem, Baldwin, Morley, Bristow. Subs: Anderson, Roden, Bowker, Whittle.

ATT: 1382.