A MAN named Willie Wolfgramm left Leigh's much-vaunted revival in tatters.

After sweeping to four successive victories they hit the buffers as a 10-point burst in the closing three minutes of the first half gave promotion-chasing Swinton the cushion they needed for a 30-14 victory at Gigg Lane.

And it was just as well they had the points on the board. For Leigh did get it together to stage a second half fightback which saw them, at one stage, close the gap to 16-14.

Leigh, although well below their best, had a scent of victory - especially after former Hilton Park prop Mark Sheals was sent off for a high tackle on Rob Ball in the 48th minute.

With 25 minutes left, Leigh were only two points adrift but struggling to hold Lions half-backs Wolfgramm and substitute Mark Riley.

Tongan international Wolfgramm was in cracking form, scoring one try and having a hand in the other four. Riley wasn't far behind, setting up Wolfgramm for his try and picking up Swinton's fifth himself.

Leigh will be bitterly disappointed with their effort, especially in the first half when they repeatedly spilled the ball in promising positions.

Coach Eric Hughes was clearly unhappy with the way things had developed and withdrew Kiwi Alan Mason at the break, replacing him with David Hill and switching David Ingram to stand-off.

The tactical re-jig looked as if it could be a master-stroke when Ingram touched down twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half to make a game of it after Swinton had eased into a 14-2 interval lead.

Only Dean Purtill's 21st minute penalty separated the sides until the final 12 minutes of the opening half.

Mark Welsby sneaked in at the corner to put the Lions ahead and in the final three minutes Wolfgramm gave Jason Roach an easy try at the opposite corner before the Tongan star snapped up an interception off Mason before sprinting 60 yards and instinctively lobbing an overhead pass that gave Welsby his second.

Leigh's most promising spell came in the first quarter of the second half.

Ingram drove over from close range and Purtill put over the penalty that followed Sheals' dismissal.

They were right back in it when Shaun Brown's bomb was collected acrobatically by Tim Street who sent Ingram in by the uprights.

Purtill's third goal of the game took him to 50 in 10 matches.

But that was as near as Leigh got as tries by Wolfgramm and Riley and three more Greg Pearce goals snuffed out Leigh's revival as quickly as it had began.

LEIGH: Lyon (O'Loughlin 59); Ingram, Wright (Mason 68), Hadcroft, Purtill; Mason (Hill HT), Brown; Street (Costello 71), Quigley, Costello (Perigo 24; Conway 61), Cain, Ball, Daniel. Attendance: 1,848.

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