It wasn't a pretty game, but Leigh showed continuing improvement, no doubt aided by having a settled side turning out for the second successive week as coach Neil Kelly starts to assert his personality and doctrine into the side.
There is still a long way to go, as Kelly himself will admit, but this was a vital victory over one of their closest top six rivals and it allowed Leigh to not only record a League 'double' over the Don Valley men, but to see them leapfrog above them and into fourth spot.
Once again Ian Watson was key to the Leigh victory, but with his eager running forwards in such as Lee Doran, Gareth Price, Mike Morrison and John Cookson in particular and the lively Tom Woodcock and Dave Alstead also impressing, Leigh were in control for much longer sequences than the scoring progression suggests. And although two very late tries gave the scoreline something of a balance that Leigh deserved, both Kelly and Sheffield's Mark Aston were left bemused and exasperated by the performance of referee Chris Halloran.
The early exchanges saw Sheffield go close through winger Danny Mills, as second row Matt Whittaker created problems, but then Gareth Price broke on 11 minutes and although he was tackled, the industrious Dave McConnell was able to burrow his way over for a try that Watson goaled.
The Eagles responded with a terrific try, when Rob Worrincy cut loose from fielding Watson's kick and raced down the right, outstripping three defenders before offloading to James Ford who then had a clear run to the posts from 50 metres.
Johnny Woodcock converted the try and landed two further penalties as Leigh conceded penalties for ball-stealing and some revenge for a Leigh win in Sheffield looked on the cards. But it was to be a short lived doubt, and when McConnell put in the strong running Cookson for Watson to gaol, Leigh had the lead, and then secured a 16-10 interval lead when Lee Marsh showed a lovely touch to put Alstead in with a wide ball that created the overlap.
Within two minutes of the restart, Watson, Doran and Toa Kohe –Love combined to put Steve Maden in at the corner , with Watson's goal attempt going wide. Leigh were looking good , but aided by some strange penalties, and plenty of spirit, the Eagles hit back when Grant Edwards crashed in for a Woodcock goaled try.
Alstead scored his second converted try on 63 minutes when Eagles' Damien Reid made a hash of an off load and Alstead pounced, and the Centurions then grabbed another when Watson put Ian Mort in for a well taken try two minutes later.
Back came the Eagles and six minutes from the end they scored again when Dominic Brambani and Brendon Lindsay released Woodcock from a scrum and he then added his 5th goal to his try . It looked set for a grandstand finish, but Adam Higson and Doran ended any thoughts of a nervous last few minutes with late tries that gave Leigh the win they deserved.



Leigh Centurions :

1 Ian Mort
2 Steve Maden
3 Adam Woodcock
4 Toa Kohe Love
5 Dave Alstead
6 Lee Marsh
7 Ian Watson
8 Mike Morrison
9 Dave McConnell
10 Gareth Price
11 James Taylor
12 Lee Doran
13 Aaron Smith

Substitutes:
14 Adam Higson
15 Anthony Stewart
16 Chris Hill
17 John Cookson

Tries: McConnell (11), Cookson (35), Alstead (40, 63), Maden (42), Mort (65), Higson (79), Doran (80)

Goals: Watson 5/7, Mort 0/1



Sheffield Eagles



1 Johnny Woodcock

2 Danny Mills

3 James Ford

4 Damien Ried

5 Rob Worrincy

6 Brendan Lindsay

7 Dominic Brambani

8 Jack Howieson

9 Michael Hill

10 Alex Rowe

11 Matt Whittaker

12 Alex Szostak

13 Adam Hayes

subs all used

14 Dane McDonald

15 Tom Buckenham

16 Grant Edwards

17 Mitch Stringer



Tries: Ford (17), Edwards (48), Woodcock (74)

Goals: Woodcock 5/5



Referee: Chris Halloran

Half time 16-10

Attendance 2,005