Leigh beat Castleford to keep title hopes alive

Josh Charnley added to his try tally with two more for Leigh against Castleford

Surprise package Leigh kept up the pressure on Super League leaders Catalans with their ninth win in 10 games.

Tigers' defeat leaves them looking over their shoulders at bottom club Wakefield, who shocked Wigan on Friday.

Elliot Wallis scored both Cas tries in a first-half revival but poor defence cost them after the break.

Tigers coach Andy Last had warned his team they were "playing for their livelihoods" and this defeat leaves them just two points clear of the relegation spot.

They began strongly but Leigh showed they can defend as well as being a slick attacking unit.

After weathering the early storm the Lancashire side scored three tries in five minutes to stun the crowd at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle.

Papua New Guinea international Lachlan Lam was again the inspiration, sending Tom Amone over for the opener and then driving over the line himself after smart work from Gareth O'Brien.

With Tom Briscoe sprinting past Wallis for the third Leigh try, and Ben Reynolds kicking all three conversions, the Leopards seemed to be in full control.

Cas made a game of it as Gareth Widdop scored his first Castleford try from a precise Riley Dean kick, and then Wallis went over in the corner following brilliant work by Kenny Edwards to cut the gap to one score.

With the home fans primed for the fightback to continue after the break, Leigh crushed that hope as Cas conceded a six-again in the opening minutes and Lam sent Charnley over.

Reynolds' sliced kick and Widdop's looping pass to set up Wallis' second try again cut the margin to six, but Leigh then stepped on the accelerator.

O'Brien sent Charnley over in the corner for his second, a try that takes him top of the Super League try-scoring chart, and then Lam cut through the defence to put the game beyond Cas.

Castleford: Widdop, Faraimo, Broadbent, Turner, Wallis, Dean, Miller, Watts, Johnstone, Griffin, Edwards, A Mellor, Westerman.

Interchanges: Sutcliffe, Mustapha, Robb, Hall.

Leigh: O'Brien, Charnley, Leutele, Hardaker, Briscoe, Reynolds, Lam, Amone, Ipape, Nakubuwai, Chamberlain, Holmes, Asiata.

Interchanges: Wilde, Davis, Hughes, J Mellor.

Referee: Liam Moore.

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