REMEMBER Rugby League Raw? Well, this was rugby league war as feuding Swinton and Leigh produced a Summer Bash of their own at Heywood Road.

Somewhere in the middle of the aggro and the flying fists, Leigh continued their relentless march to the Middle 8’s with a 12th successive victory.

But just what new boy Josh Drinkwater made of his first game of Kingstone Press Championship rugby is probably best left unexplained.

In the blue corner, Swinton saw Zach Johnson and Josh Barlow sent-off for fighting.

The Lions also had Mike Butt sin binned and finished the game with 10 men after a late yellow card for Dan Fleming.

In the red corner-though on this occasion Centurions were in their away kit-Gaz Hock received his marching orders from referee Andy Sweet.

And the visitors ended the afternoon two men short following Jake Emmitt’s sin binning for battling with Fleming. Adam Higson also spent 10 minutes on the side-lines for his flare-up with Butt.

Happily for coach Neil Jukes, in this first game of the post Rangi Chase era, Leigh never looked likely to surrender their unbeaten league run now stretching back over 13 games.

The visitors were behind only once when Swinton hooker Anthony Nicholson cancelled out Tom Armstrong’s seventh minute opener and Chris Atkin added the conversion.

Leigh trailed for 10 minutes as Swinton enjoyed their best period of the soon to be feisty encounter.

But once full-back Lee Smith made the first of his two try scoring interventions, Centurions took control. Jonny Pownall, Richard Whiting and Smith again touched down and the visitors led 26-6 at the break.

When the game resumed it wasn’t long before hostilities kicked-off off too sparked by Butt’s tackle on Higson.

Cue a good old fashioned scrap ending with Hock and Johnson receiving red cards as well as Barlow who came off the bench.

When peace broke out Leigh eventually re-discovered their rhythm and Ridyard added another try before leaving the field to be replaced by debut boy Drinkwater.

Dayne Weston and Ben Reynolds notched further touch downs only for another episode of fisticuffs between Lions newcomer Fleming and Emmitt to occupy Mr Sweet’s attention.

There was still time for Drinkwater to celebrate a first Leigh try but a missed Ben Reynolds conversion prevented another half century points haul.

Stats:

Swinton:

Hyde; Robinson, Little, Lloyd, Butt; White, Atkin; Austin, Nicholson, Bracek, Thornley, Dwyer, Barlow; substitutes:Fleming, Beharrell, Nash, Johnson.

Try: Nicholson (14)

Goal: Atkin

Leigh:

Smith; Higson, Armstrong, Tonga, Pownall; Ridyard, Reynolds; Emmitt, Higham, Weston, Whiting, Maitua, Hock; substitutes: Drinkwater, Fash, Hopkins, Acton.

Tries: Armstrong (7), Smith (24 and 40), Whiting (34), Ridyard (56), Weston (60), Reynolds (66), Drinkwater (78).

Goals: Ridyard (5), Reynolds.

Referee: Andy Sweet

Attendance: 1,413.