LEIGH may have paid a heavy price for their comprehensive 31-6 success at York.

David Ingram and influential Kiwi Alan Mason are both facing suspension while Paul Daniel (shoulder) and Andy Cheetham (ankle) appear to have joined the long-term casualty list.

Top try-scorer Ingram received his marching orders for a high tackle that looked more instinctive than malicious just seven minutes into the second half.

That only compounded Leigh's disciplinary problems with Mason being put on report for a high tackle as early as the 13th minute and Jimmy Veikoso sin-binned for a professional foul within three minutes of Mason's transgression.

But, despite the injuries and suspension threat, Leigh performed with distinction against a side that had only previously lost at home to leaders Hull KR and third-placed Hunslet.

Leigh's dominance was almost total as skipper Tim Street and pack colleague Alex Cain laid the platform up front.

Eager Leigh picked off the chances that fell their way and kept York at arms length with a committed defensive effort.

Two penalties by Dean Purtill put Leigh on their way in the first three minutes and, despite Andy Precious pulling two points back soon afterwards, Leigh were hardly ruffled.

They increased their lead on 18 minutes when Jason O'Loughlin skipped clean through and Purtill put over the third of his seven goals.

A lead of 10-2 was quickly extended to 16-2 when Mason's beautifully disguised pass sent Ingram racing in.

Right on the stroke of half-time Leigh effectively had the points wrapped up when Veikoso cleverly made room on the outside for Purtill to sprint 50 yards and round to the posts for a 22-2 interval lead.

After Ingram's dismissal Leigh never had things quite their own way again but they did extend their lead when Mason unlocked the defence and Rob Ball spun out of two tackles to dive in beneath the posts.

Leigh were only caught out once when scrum-half Terry Smirk crossed just before the hour but Leigh had done enough and a Purtill penalty and Mason drop goal finished things off.

LEIGH: Kay; Burgess, Veikoso, Cheetham (Wright 22), Purtill; Ingram, O'Loughlin (Patel 58); Street, Quigley, Liku (Daniel 24), Cain, Ball (Hill 57), Mason. Att: 503.

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