A DETERMINED Leigh squad set off with only one thing on their minds – a win and they came away with a well deserved 27-19 victory against seventh placed Altrincham Kersal.

Early Leigh pressure resulted in a penalty for the visitors and they were unlucky not to take the lead when the penalty attempt by Elliott Ryan bounced back off the crossbar.

Unfortunately, Altrincham worked their way back up the pitch and after three reset scrums were rewarded with a pushover try scored by their No. 8, Jonny Bishop, an ex-Leigh player who came through our age grade system.

Leigh got the upper hand on 35 minutes when Tom Baker got the ball to ground following a driving maul, converted from wide by Elliott Ryan to level. 

This was quickly followed by another Leigh score on the stroke of half time by Sean MacDonald, who ran on to a peach of a ball from Ryan McKinstry for a try converted again by Ryan.

Leigh continued to dominate in the second half and were soon rewarded with another penalty, which was duly dispatched again by Ryan.

The lads were now on a roll and they augmented their lead on 50 minutes when scrum half David Wood dropped off Matt Newton, to rampage his way over for another try converted by Elliott Ryan.

Leigh’s domination and Altrincham’s humiliation continued when Elliott Ryan stepped up slotted another penalty to extend the lead to 20 points.

Altrincham's efforts were rewarded after 70 minutes when a driving maul produced a converted try for them and in the last minute they added another unconverted try.

This was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Leigh lads who all worked themselves to a standstill and produced some exhilarating rugby along the way.

This victory leaves Leigh second from the bottom of the League four points clear of fellow strugglers, Widnes.

Leigh entertain third placed Wilmslow at Round Ash Park on Saturday.