Leigh beat Bradford in Championship thriler

Leigh drew first blood in a battle against fellow Championship heavyweights Bradford, edging out the former Super League side 36-24.

A huge crowd of 7,449 witnessed an epic fightback from Paul Rowley’s men in a match which warranted the use of six yellow cards. 

It could hardly have been a more unfortunate start for Leigh who trailed 12-0 after early tries from Adam O’Brien and Chev Walker.

But Ryan Brierley, arguably the stand out Championship player last season, collected his grubber to pull one back.

Both sides were reduced to 11 men after Jamie Acton, Greg McNally, Danny Williams and Harry Siejka were all sin binned.

It was during that time that former Parramatta fans favorite Fui Fui Moi Moi was introduced and the big man made an immediate impact, trampling over Danny Addy on his first carry.

Siejka returned to the field to set up Jake Mullaney before Etu Uaisele gave the visitors a 20-6 half-time lead after Kurt Haggerty was shown the yellow card.

Liam Kay and Greg McNally gave the Centurions hope with early second half tries to take the score to 16-20. 

And when Siejka was sin binned again, Tom Armstrong touched down after another barnstorming run from Moi Moi. Martyn Ridyard converted to ensure that the lead changed hands for the first time.

O’Brien scored a second to momentarily give the Bulls the upperhand but the pendulum swung straight back to Leigh who scored through McNally for 28-24.

A Ridyard penalty followed before Sean Penkywicz sealed a famous victory to the delight of the home supporters.

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Meanwhile in Super League, Chris Riley and Jacob Miller both grabbed hat tricks as Wakefield made it two from two with a 44-24 win over Hull KR.

The Rovers opened the scoring when former Gold Coast half-back Albert Kelly collected his own kick to touch down but his efforts was immediately cancelled out by Matty Ashurst.

Tyrone McCarthy put the Rovers back ahead but a quickfire double from Miller gave the Wildcats a lead that they would go onto hold for the remainder of the game.

Second rower Danny Kirmond broke the line to touch down after the break but Ken Sio put the visitors back within touching distance at 22-18 just two minutes later.

Riley scored his hat trick in the final quarter before Miller confirmed an emphatic victory for the side that had been earmarked as the favorites for the wooden spoon.