LEIGH Centurions virtually assured themselves a top six-finish and a place in the end of season play-offs with a scratchy 34-14 victory over bottom club Doncaster.

A hat-trick of tries from centre Dave Alstead helped Leigh end a run of disappointing results which had seen them loose three of their last four games.

With only two games left of the regular season, Leigh are on course to finish fifth or sixth but unless their form drastically improves, there are unlikely to make any impact on the play-offs.

Leigh started well enough and had a 10-0 lead inside seven minutes with tries from Anthony Stewart and Miles Greenwood with Damien Couturier kicking one goal.

Doncaster were their own worst enemies, however, having ex-Leigh pair Damien Munro and Paul Anderson sin-binned and substitute Gary Richardson sent off as they conceded a stack of penalties.

Leigh increased their lead to 16-0 with a Mal Styles try and Couturier goal before Munro returned from the sin-bin to slice through and claw a try back for Doncaster.

Just before half time Leigh regained the upper hand when Alstead touched down from Martin Ainscough's kick behind the line.

When Greenwood and Alstead both touched down again within 10 minutes of the start of the second half, Leigh appeared to be coasting with a 30-4 lead.

Alstead's hat-trick try in the 56th minute made it 34-4 and Leigh were home and dry.

But the final 20 minutes were dominated by Doncaster who fed off a whole catalogue of Leigh errors.

Chris Forster intercepted and went 90 metres to score and right on the final hooter a mistake by Leroy Rivett was punished by Darren Woods who scored a six-pointer at the corner.