Betfred Super League
Bradford (0) 12
Tries: Atkin, Aekins Goals: Dean 2
Leigh (14) 38
Tries: Charnley 3, Senior, Hodgson, Brogan Goals: Cook 7
Josh Charnley broke the Super League all-time try-scoring record to help Leigh Leopards to victory at Bradford Bulls.
The 34-year-old grabbed a hat-trick at Odsal to take him up to 272 tries, one clear of Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall.
Charnley, who limped off with 15 minutes to go, now has 16 tries this season, behind only the Rhinos’ Maika Sivo.
He set the Leopards up for a sixth win in seven matches, with Innes Senior, Bailey Hodgson and Louis Brogan also crossing to complete a comprehensive triumph.
Despite winning, Leigh stay in seventh, but they moved within two points of stuttering St Helens, who occupy the final play-off spot.
Bradford only had Chris Atkin and Caleb Aekins tries to show for a disappointing afternoon as defeat kept them in 10th at the halfway point of the campaign.
The corresponding fixture between these sides next year will be staged in Las Vegas on 27 February at Allegiant Stadium, home of NFL franchise Las Vegas Raiders, in the first match between sides from either side of the Pennines to be held Stateside.
But this one was lit up by vintage finishing from Charnley, whose tries have come for Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and now Leigh since his debut as a teenager in 2010.
An Adam Cook penalty goal had got the scoreboard moving but the Australian stand-off then produced an inch-perfect kick that bounced up perfectly for Charnley to run onto and move within one of Hall’s record.
Bradford had plenty of territory but they did not possess anyone as clinical as Charnley and he showed why with his second try.
Charnley received a pass on the right touchline, side-stepped inside past two defenders and dived over before a third could get across to go level with the mark.
The Bulls grabbed the first points of the second half as scrum-half Atkin broke the line and then held off Charnley’s attempted tackle to slide over.
However, the Leopards winger had the last laugh as Cook’s pass gave him the chance to complete his hat-trick for Super League try number 272.
A fine burst through the defence from full-back Aekins got the Bulls’ second try but easy scores from Hodgson and Brogan added gloss to the margin of victory.
The only negative was the sight of Charnley going off injured before the end, with Leigh hoping the evergreen winger will be able to keep adding to his record tally.
Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Heggarty told Radio Leeds:
“There are no complaints. I thought Leigh were really good. They taught us a good lesson in completing high and turning the ball over in the right areas.
The tough part for me is we made six line breaks and dropped four balls on the back of it. It shows we can create the opportunities, it’s executing those big moments and we didn’t do that today.
“When you make so many breaks, it’s frustrating when you don’t score them. Most teams probably don’t make six line breaks in two games and we did it in one game.
“But they’ve completed at 92% and we’ve completed at 62% and you’re never going to win games in Super League doing that.”
Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam told Radio Manchester:
“Very tough, very methodical, a little bit boring at times, but that’s the way you’ve got to play here.
“We had a really simple game plan and we’ve scored aorund 40 points, so I’m really pleased for the players.
“It was different to what we’re used to with the style we play but they picked it up really well. We scrambled well defensively and there were some really positive signs.”
Bradford: Aekins; Armitage, Chamberlain, Blake, Ryan; Dean, Atkin; Sutton, Ackers, Doro, Fulton, Russell, Mellor.
Interchanges: Gardiner, Scurr, Steinwede, Hooley.
Leigh: Armstrong; Senior, Hodgson, Hughes, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.
Interchanges: Brogan, Pene, O’Brien, Horne.
Referee: Jack Smith.