Leigh secure third win in succession at Catalans
Betfred Super League
Catalans (6) 18
Tries:Sexton, Makinson 2 Goals:Sexton 3
Leigh (10) 33
Tries:Charnley 2, Ofahengaue, Trout, Halton Goals:Cook 6 Drop Goal:Cook
Leigh Leopards made it three Super League wins on the bounce with an impressive victory against the Catalans Dragons in an entertaining affair in Perpignan.
Josh Charnley scored twice on his 100th appearance for Leigh who are beginning to replicate the form which has seen them make the play-offs in the past two Super League seasons.
Fellow winger Tommy Makinson scored twice for Catalans as the French side led the match with less than 15 minutes remaining.
However, Joe Ofahengaue scored a decisive try for Leigh late on before scores from Owen Trout and Frankie Halton - as well as a drop goal from Adam Cook - added gloss to the scoreline to underline the Leopards' resurgence.
Buoyed by a terrific following from their travelling supporters, Leigh opened the scoring inside seven minutes via the boot of Adam Cook once Zac Lipowicz was found guilty of a ball steal on halfway by referee Liam Moore.
Gaz O'Brien was taken out of the game by Romain Navarette under a high ball from Cook, and after Umyla Hanley had a try disallowed by Moore for a knock-on, the play was pulled back for Cook to add two more points.
Catalans' haphazard opening 15 minutes was summed up by Toby Sexton, who stubbed his toe with his attempted restart - and which fortuitously presented him with the opportunity to kick a penalty at the second attempt after the ball was regained within 10 yards.
That fortune allowed Catalans to build their first meaningful attack, and Sexton's delightful chip and chase - with a slice of luck on the bounce - saw him dot down, and by the time he kicked the extras, Catalans had a slender advantage they scarcely deserved.
Cook quickly kicked Leigh level before his superb line break helped set up Josh Charnley - on his 100th appearance for the Leopards - to run in and add the 328th professional try of his career. It took him past Shaun Edwards in the all-time top try scorers list in the British game.
After the break, Lam threatened to weave his way through before knocking on but the Leopards were not to be denied when Cook's cut-out pass found Charnley to walk in unopposed.
Catalans closed the gap almost instantly as Ugo Tison found a gap in the Leigh backline and spotted Makinson on his outside to dot down his 205th Super League try.
Makinson added a second on the hour mark when Charlie Staines' cut-out pass found the winger who left Innes Senior grasping at thin air as the home side re-took the lead before Sexton nailed the extras from the right touchline.
Cook - who was excellent with the boot - then kicked a wonderful 40/20 which allowed the Leopards upfield, and Ofahengaue took full advantage immediately by barging through three Catalans defenders under the sticks to grab back the lead in a pulsating affair.
The visitors sealed the win with just over five minutes left when a delightful offload from hooker Edwin Ipape was collected by Trout to dive over next to the sticks before Lam's short cushioned pass found Halton to secure the two points.
Cook put the icing on the cake with a drop goal in the final act of the evening as the players celebrated leapfrogging their opponents in the table with photographs in front of the thousands of travelling fans from Greater Manchester.
Catalans:Staines; Makinson, Aispuro-Bichet, Faataape, Darrelatour; Sexton, Dodd; Fa'asuamaleaui, Tison, Navarrete, Condon, Lipowicz, Bousquet.
Interchanges: Satae, Maria, Allen, Leeming.
Leigh:O'Brien; I. Senior, Niu, Hanley, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Ipape, Trout, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.
Interchanges: Hughes, Horne, Brogan, Armstrong.
Referee:Liam Moore.
