Tierney double condemns Leigh to relegation

Leigh have been relegated back to the Championship after a 26-10 defeat to Catalans in the Million Pound Game.

The Dragons took control of the in the second half with two Lewis Tierney tries and five goals from Luke Walsh enough for them to survive the drop.

Winger Fouad Yaha put the icing on the cake in the final moments as the hosts surrendered a 10-4 lead early in the second half to fall to a heart-breaking defeat.

It was a performance marred by mistakes and ill-discipline from the Centurions on a wet Leigh Sports Village pitch, as they were relegated after just one season in Super League.

Leigh came out of the blocks quickly and opened the scoring in the 7^th minute as they moved the ball left-to-right, with Ben Crooks putting Matty Dawson in at the corner.

The Centurions looked the better side but they were unable to build on their lead and six minutes before half-time Catalans hit back, Iain Thornley taking Tierney’s pass to score out wide.

Walsh hit the post with the conversion meaning Ben Reynolds touchline conversion from Leigh’s earlier try was the difference between the sides at half-time.

Just like the first half, the home side came out full of energy and they extended their lead when James Clare took Josh Drinkwater’s beautiful long pass to make it 10-4.

But again they were unable to build any momentum and the French side came back as Richie Myler fed Tierney for his first try, Walsh was unsuccessful with the conversion but landed a penalty goal moments later to make it 10-10.

Walsh kicked another penalty goal before Myler made a half break, offloaded to Louis Anderson and he put Tierney over for his second four-pointer. Walsh converted to open a two-score lead, 10-18.

With 14 minutes to play, Walsh landed another penalty goal after yet more Leigh in-discipline and the win was sealed in the dying moments as Walsh put Yaha over for the final try.

After a season of struggle it was a rare high for the Dragons who were muted with their celebrations at the end, with the devastation of relegation written all over the face of Leigh coach Neil Jukes and his players.

Leigh: Hampshire, Dawson, Crooks, Fleming, Clare, Reynolds, Clare, Reynolds, Drinkwater, Maria, Higham, Tickle, Paterson, Stewart, Burr. Interchange: Hood, Hopkins, Hansen, Richards.

Catalans: Tierney, Duport, Thornley, Wiliame, Yaha, Walsh, Myler, Moa, Aiton, Bousquet, Anderson, Horo, Bird. Interchange: Garcia, Baitieri, Albert, Margalet.