Leigh Centurions 68 Hunslet Hawks 4

CENTURIONS' fans were drooling at the performance of another of their rising stars last night as Leigh continued their relentless march towards the NFP Minor Premiership writes Mike Hulme

Teenage scrum-half Lee Sanderson marked a dream full debut with four of Leigh's 13 tries in the demolition of struggling Hunslet.

Outstanding displays in the Alliance side by the 19-year-old local product prompted coach Paul Terzis to give him a full game last night. And he was rewarded as Sanderson scored a hat-trick in 13 first half minutes, added a fourth after half time and added three conversions for good measure.

"At Leigh we know the potential of young Sanderson," says Terzis. "He's come through the Academy system and this year has been outstanding in the Alliance. He deserved his chance and no doubt he'll figure again before the season's out."

Sanderson's performance even outshone that of Leigh's try-machine full-back Neil Turley.

The record-breaker had not touched down until the 53rd minute but by the 61st minute he had collected yet another hat-trick to take his season's tally to an incredible 39 - needing just 11 more touchdowns to beat the club's all-time record for tries in a season set 16 years ago by Aussie centre Steve Halliwell.

Leigh had too much class all across the park for the Hawks who were beaten Grand Finalists just two years ago.

Paul Anderson was a constant threat on the right while Simon Baldwin was a real handful on the left. Willie Swann brought a touch of class and clearly enjoyed scoring the second half try against the club he skippered last season.

Three tries in the opening 18 minutes from Anderson (2) and Dave Ingram set the scene as Leigh soon built up a 14-0 lead.

Although Iain Higgins pulled four points back for the Hawks, it was only a minor setback for Leigh who opened up a 32-4 half time lead with Sanderson going in three times.

Swann scored straight after half time to keep the scoreboard moving while Sanderson's fourth in the 49th minute was Leigh's 150th league try of a high-scoring season. Simon Svabic's fifth goal made it 42-4.

Turley's quick-fire hat-trick took Leigh beyond 50 points yet again and Sanderson's third conversion came after Liam Bretherton's try under the posts.

In the final minutes Ingram added his second as he just stretched out ahead of Turley to reach Swann's inch-perfect kick to the tryline.

Leigh: Turley, Ingram, Anderson, Bretherton, Cross; Svabic, Sanderson, Leathem, Hamilton, Norman, Baldwin, Morley, Swann. Subs: Street, Johnson, Whittle, Jones. Attendance 1951.