Hull FC 22 Leigh Centurions 26.

 Neil Jukes reckoned Leigh didn’t travel to the KCOM Stadium simply to make up the numbers.

So, a first ever Super League away win to end a run of nine successive league and cup defeats on Gregg McNally’s 200th career appearance all added upto an excellent night’s work for the Centurions.

Two tries apiece from Matty Dawson and Atelea Vea plus a fifth for Ben Reynolds ensured Leigh’s historic victory, 12 years after their only previous top flight campaign.

“I’ve never questioned our effort,” said delighted boss Jukes. “We've worked tirelessly and stayed together but we will have a few more bumps along the way.

“However, we showed enough spirit over the last eight weeks and the scores we've had, apart form Castleford, we've been competitive.

“It’s hard to keep motivating the players when you are missing out on results so this win is massive.

"We came up with smart plays at the right time and when we got on top in the ruck helped us slow things down and get the right numbers in the right areas.

"We also got a couple of 50/50 calls which we haven't had in recent games.”

Ben Reynolds contributed 10 points on his return to partner Josh Drinkwater at half-back while Adam Higson’s suspension forced a back line re-shuffle.

Irish international McNally took over at full-back on his landmark appearance with Mitch Brown deployed to the wing and Cory Paterson drafted into centre.

And that meant no place for Ben Crooks against one of his former clubs.

Leigh, who started well against Salford but couldn’t deliver the elusive away win at Magic Weekend, again hit the front early through Dawson’s first try.

FC full-back Jamie Shaul drew the Challenge Cup holders level after 20 minutes only for Dawson to restore a lead Leigh weren’t to relinquish.

When Shaul fumbled Drinkwater’s grubber Vea was on hand to snatch the visitors’ third try. Reynolds made it third time lucky with his conversion.

Leigh’s hopes of taking a double figures lead into the interval were dashed when Carlos Tuimavave touched down from Albert Kelly’s kick.

But Centurions’ response was excellent and Reynolds latched onto another Drinkwater kick and then converted his own try to make it 20-10 after 45 minutes.

Almost immediately Shaul went in for FC’s third try but still Leigh refused to surrender their advantage.

Vea grabbed a second try after a mistake by Steve Michaels and though Kelly made the last five minutes more nervous than it might have been, Leigh held on.

Match stats Hull FC: Shaul; Michaels, Tuimavave, Griffin, Rawsthorne; Kelly, Sneyd; Bowden, Houghton, Watts, Manu, Minichiello, Green; substitutes: Washbrook, Turgut, Downs, Fash.

Tries: Shaul (21, 49), Tuimavave (40), Kelly (75) Goals: Sneyd (3) Leigh: McNally; Dawson, Fleming, Paterson, Brown; Reynolds, Drinkwater, Weston, Hood, Acton, Vea, Hansen, Stewart; substitutes: Pelissier, Tickle, Hopkins, Burr.

Tries: Dawson (8, 25), Vea (35, 55), Reynolds (45) Goals: Reynolds (3) Referee: Ben Thaler Attendance: 10,222