LEIGH Centurions secured their 25th win of the Kingstone Press Championship with a five-try 28-16 win against North Wales Crusaders.

It was a close game in which the Centurions had to defend well for long spells as Crusaders gave a spirited display that eventually saw them claim a bonus point.

It was the hosts that opened the scoring after eight minutes when Jamie Dallimore chipped over the advancing line, collected and turned the ball inside for for Tommy Johnson to stretch over by the posts. The full-back converted his own try to open a 6-0 advantage.

Leigh were often frustrated during the opening period as North Wales slowed the play down, but they finally found form and looked a class apart in the last 10 minutes of the half.

First Martyn Ridyard cleverly unpicked the defence for Johnny Walker to score his first try for the club and notch their 1,000th point in the league..

Ridyard converted before Leigh moved clear again moments later.

Steve Maden ran well to set the position for Ridyard and Johnny Pownall and Tom Armstrong supported to score in the corner.

Leading 10-6 at half-time, the second half saw play open up for Leigh.

Christiaan Roets missed a chance for the hosts before Sam Hopkins charged 20 metres off a Ridyard pass.

Then, after 64 minutes, Ryan Brierley supported another Hopkins break and then beat three players over 40 metres.

Ridyard goaled to open a 22-6 advantage but a lengthy stoppage ensued when North Wales former Leigh East man Johnny Walker was carried from the field.

Crusaders hit back when on-loan Ryan Duffy got in by the posts for Johnson to convert.

Ridyard and Brierley then broke Welsh hearts with the latter scything through for his 40th try of the season.

Although the hosts pulled a further try back through Duffy, Leigh locked things up to move into the play-offs in winning form.