Leigh Centurions 50 Workington Town 24 by Mike Hulme

THE Centurions took a step nearer booking a Buddies National League Cup quarter final spot with a nine-try mauling of Workington - but not without a few scares along the way.

Leigh trailed 18-16 at the break and were only 28-24 ahead going into the final 20 minutes.

But a burst of three tries in 11 minutes took them well clear to make it two wins out of two in the tournament.

Leigh were behind twice in a first half which saw the teams trade try for try.

Matthew Woodcock gave Town an early lead before John Duffy, on his return from Chorley, produced a defence splitting pass that sent Mark McCully over. McCully went on to pile up 18 points from his try and seven goals.

Willie Swann and Carl Sice exchanged touchdowns before David Ingram's 99th career try gave Leigh a 16-12 lead. But just before half time Stuart Hoyles touched down from Tane Manihera's accurate grubber to give the Cumbrians the half time advantage.

The first of Adam Bristow's two tries in the opening moments of the second half restored Leigh's lead. They were never to lose that advantage again.

Ten minutes later Eric Andrews burst clean through for another but Leigh still couldn't shake off the opposition and when Lokeni Savelio found a way over the line, Town were back to within four points at 28-24.

But the final quarter was dominated by Leigh as Duffy, Swann and Liam Bretherton called the shots.

Teenage back rower Anthony Blackwood marked his debut by laying on Bristow's second try, Bretherton wormed over from close in and Duffy's perfect pass sent Andrew Isherwood over as Leigh stretched their lead to 44-24.

Two minutes from time Leigh chalked up 50 points for a second successive match when youngsters Ian Hodson and Blackwood combined for Blackwood to stride over.