RANGI Chase celebrated his return to action with a first half try as Leigh bounced back from their Challenge Cup exit in Toulouse.

But the Kingstone Press Championship leaders had to work hard for their ninth league win and retain a one-point advantage at the top over London Broncos.

Early in the second half, Centurions were reduced to 11 men with Gareth Hock and Jamie Acton sin-binned for separate incidents either side of the interval.

And having blown a 22-8 lead, Neil Jukes’ visitors re-grouped to score a match winning try from winger Liam Kay 15 minutes from time.

“What won us the game was the players working hard for one another,” said Jukes, also able to recall Hock, Harrison Hansen and Lee Smith after the trio missed the fifth round cup defeat.

“They just showed up for one another and that’s pleasing and something I can’t coach. Shoulder to shoulder they worked hard for each other and were outstanding.

“Rangi probably tried too hard on occasions but I thought he was great. He had a hand in two or three line breaks and came up a try himself. And Martyn Ridyard came up with one of his best games, controlling the team with his kicks.”

Ben Reynolds was the man left out for Chase’s first game since touching down for a match winning try against London Broncos on February 21.

Since then the former England international and 2011 Man of Steel, who wasn’t in Jukes’ original 19-man squad, had missed nine games before re-appearing at the Big Fellas Stadium.

So, his return was welcomed though this victory was built on a collective rather than individual effort, helping Centurions open up a seven-point gap between themselves and fifth placed Rovers.

The home side started brightly with Kyran Johnson’s penalty and conversion to hooker Andy Ellis’s 10th minute try, making it 8-0.

Leigh responded and Tom Armstrong made in-roads into the deficit with a 15th minute touch down.

Substitute Acton, fresh from agreeing a two-year contract extension, added the visitors’ second try 10 minutes later.

And it was the 24-year-old front rower’s break that laid the platform for Chase’s game high spot.

Leigh were down to 12 men when they claimed a fourth try with Hock upsetting referee James Child and yellow carded for play the ball interference.

Ridyard was the architect with a smart kick allowing Armstrong to set-up full-back Smith to score.

Leigh’s 22-8 half-time advantage looked increasingly slender as Acton was binned for an attempted trip and centre Bradley Tagg crossed for the home side’s second touch down.

Despite Hock’s return, Featherstone scored again through Misi Taulapapa to bring Rovers back within four. Ridyard’s penalty nosed Centurions six clear only for Johnson’s converted try to obtain home parity with more than a quarter left.

However, Leigh weren’t finished and Ridyard’s kick to the corner was snapped up by Kay for the crucial score. Ridyard’s penalty made it 30-24 before Leigh were indebted for a second time in the half to Adam Higson for halting a certain try.

Match stats:

Featherstone:

Hardman; Johnson, Tagg, Taulapapa, Blockley; Milner, Thackeray, Griffin, Ellis, Bostock, Cording, Davies, Spears; subs: Cooper, MacDonald, Ormondroyd, Baldwinson.

Tries: Ellis (10), Tagg (45), Taulapapa (49), Johnson (60).

Goals: Johnson (4)

Leigh:

Smith; Higson, Whiting, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Chase; Hansen, Higham, Weston, Maitua, Hock, Paterson; substitutes: Hood, Hopkins, Emmitt, Acton.

Tries: Armstrong (15), Acton (25), Chase (27), Smith (40), Kay (65)

Goals: Ridyard (5)

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 2,731