GREGG McNally, Liam Forsyth and Iain Thornley grabbed doubles as Leigh’s biggest crowd of the season saw John Duffy’s side gain stunning revenge over their top five Betfred Championship rivals.

Martyn Ridyard also kicked 10 goals from 12 attempts as fourth placed Centurions opened up a four points gap on the Odsal outfit.

Ex Bull McNally was one of two Centurions players sin binned by busy Super League referee Ben Thaler in a game of 21 penalties.

But ahead of five successive away fixtures this eight try rout couldn’t have been better timed.

“I spoke in the week about backing up a big performance because we hadn’t really done that this season,” said Duffy.

“We had a big performance at Summer Bash (against Widnes) but didn’t turn it round the next week.

“We haven’t done it all year but off the back of beating Halifax last week, we have done it now against a well-coached Bradford team.”

“To play with 12 men for 20 minutes against a team like that just shows what kind of team we have got and what kind of people we have in the playing group.”

Leigh, beaten 26-12 at Odsal in March, took giant strides towards a seventh league and cup win in eight games by gaining a 22-8 interval lead despite losing Sam Brooks to a yellow card for dissent.

Tries from Costello, Thornley and McNally-an 80 metres sprint-plus Ridyard’s goal kicking, did the damage against stand-off Matty Wildie’s reply for the Bulls after Ethan Ryan’s footwork sliced open Leigh’s cover.

Bradford didn’t help their chances by failing to convert chances in each half.

Under pressure from Micky Higham, prop Liam Kirk lost possession over the line in the first half, George Flanagan knocked on at the start of the second and then Wildie couldn’t cling on after Ross Oakes raced through.

In contrast, Leigh were clinical with their finishing ahead of five games on the road including their AB Sundecks 1895 Cup quarter-final against Barrow at St Helens

Bradford finally made the most of their extra man advantage when Ross Peltier sent over Flanagan under the posts for Lilley to make it three from three from the tee.

With McNally restored to the side Leigh hit back with Ridyard’s 55th minute penalty.

When Woods was then caught late by Elliot Minchella, Centurions ran the ball and Andy Thornley matched brother Iain’s earlier effort by crossing the whitewash.

Leigh now had breathing space allowing McNally and Liam Forsyth to go over in quick succession.

With the Bulls ran ragged Forsyth and Thornley completed doubles in the closing two minutes, sandwiched between Storton’s consolation for the visitors.

Match stats:

Leigh: McNally; Costello, I Thornley, Forsyth, Marsh; Ridyard, Woods; Douglas, Higham, Brooks, Batchelor, A Thornley, Cator; substitutes: Hood, Thompson, Hock, L Adamson.

Tries: Costello (4), I Thornley (10, 80), McNally (38, 68), A Thornley (58), Forsyth (70, 78)

Goals: Ridyard 10/12

Sin bin: Brooks (13 mins), McNally (44 mins)

Bradford: Ryan; Grant, Gibson, Oakes, Foggin-Johnson; Wildie, Lilley; Kirk, Hallas, Crossley, Garside, Storton, Minchella; substitutes: Flanagan, Magrin, Wood, Peltier.

Tries: Wildie (29), Flanagan (52), Storton (79)

Goals: Lilley 4/4

Referee: Ben Thaler

Half-time: 22-8

Attendance: 4,180