Leigh beat York despite Bennison hat-trick

Betfred Super League

Leigh (12) 22

Tries: Charnley, Ofahengaue, Badrock, Armstrong Goals: Cook 3

York (10) 14

Tries: Bennison 3 Goals: Bennison

Leigh scored four tries to beat York and boost their Super League play-off hopes despite Joe Bennison’s hat-trick for the Knights.

First-half tries from Josh Charnley and Joe Ofahengaue helped the home side into a 12-10 half-time lead, with Bennison going over twice for York.

Further scores from Andy Badrock and David Armstrong stretched the lead to 22-10.

Bennison completed his hat-trick with eight minutes remaining, but Leigh comfortably saw out victory.

A 14th win of the season keeps Leigh in sixth place, level on points with both Warrington and Hull KR above them, and with a four-point buffer in the play-off spots to seventh-placed St Helens.

York stay in 10th having failed to build on last week’s impressive victory over Saints.

They took the lead after just four minutes when a break from Ata Hingano led to Bennison’s first try of the night, but Leigh quickly responded as they worked Charnley into the right corner.

Ofahengaue powered his way over to put Leigh in front and the goal, followed by a penalty from Adam Cook, pushed the hosts out to a 12-6 lead.

But York replied before the break as Bennison took Cody Hunter’s long pass to score his second try.

Seven minutes into the second half, Leigh extended their lead as Umyla Hanley almost found the line before Badrock found a soft shoulder to barge over.

Lachlan Lam then stepped off his left foot to break the line and send Armstrong under the posts with 16 minutes remaining.

York did manage a third try as they worked the ball left from their head and feet and Bennison dived spectacularly to score his hat-trick try.

But the missed goal from out wide kept the visitors two scores behind and they never threatened again in the closing minutes.

Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We just did enough tonight. We were probably on a bit of a downer after last week.

"No disrespect to York but I felt the performance was a bit flat and we need to get up for next week.

"But we've got the two points in the bag, it puts us four points clear in the top six and now we can focus on trying to climb that ladder."

York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:

"It's a frustrating night. I thought we played very tough but ultimately we lacked a bit of game management and you invite a team like Leigh on, something is going to give.

"The start of the second half cost us in the end, we were a little bit loose and invited them back on easy field position.

"I thought Leigh were there for the taking today. I didn't think they were at their best but how they managed that game is a great lesson for us."

Leigh: Armstrong, Senior, Badrock, Hanley, Charnley, Cook, Lam, Ofahengaue, Horne, Mulhern, Trout, Alick-Wiencke, Brogan

Interchanges: Lui, Davis, O’Brien, Ipape

York: Mata’afa, Galeano, Wood, Williams, Bennison, Hunter, McShane, Martin, Inman, Va’a, Foster, Field, Hingano

Interchanges: Balmforth, Vaughan, Thompson, Dee

Referee: James Vella.