Leeds climb to fourth with victory at Leigh

Betfred Super League, Leigh Sports Village

Leigh (8) 14

Tries: Hanley, Brand 2 Goals: O’Brien

Leeds (10) 22

Leeds Rhinos climbed to fourth in the Super League table with a four-try victory at Leigh.

Trailing 8-0 after tries from Umyla Handley and Keanan Brand, Lachlan Miller got them on the board before Sam Lisone’s try put them ahead before half-time.

James Bentley’s try just after the break extended the lead but Leigh responded with Brand’s second try and twice went close to going back in front.

It moved Leeds above St Helens into fourth ahead of Saints ‘ trip to Wakefield on Friday.

Leigh stay third after the end of a run of four straight victories, having last lost at the end of June – also against Leeds.

The hosts took the lead after 10 minutes when Hanley skipped his way into a gap and sprinted into the right corner, before Lachlan Lam’s floated pass saw Brand score Leigh’s second try after a strong carry from Isaac Liu.

Leeds responded through Miller, who arced a run across the defence, dummied and darted into half a hole to slide over.

Leeds were much sharper at the start of the second half and, after just three minutes, extended their lead when Jake Connor, on the last tackle, floated a cross-field kick that Harry Newman climbed highest to take and offloaded inside for Bentley to go over under the posts.

The hosts responded with sustained pressure, and quick hands worked Brand into the right corner for his second try of the night.

Leigh thought they had retaken the lead when first Tesi Niu was held up over the line before Bailey Hodgson did touch down, only for the video referee to rule out the try for obstruction.

Leigh: Hodgson, Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, O’Brien, Lam, Trout, Ipape, Ofahengaue, Halton, Hughes, Liu

Interchanges: McNamara, Mulhern, Davis, O’Neill

Leeds: Miller, Hall, Handley, Newman, Hankinson, Croft, Connor, Palasia, O’Connor, Jenkins, McDonnell, Gannon, Watkins

Interchanges: Bentley, Lisone, Cassell, Ackers