Qualifiers: Leigh Centurions 8-24 Widnes Vikings

Rhys Hanbury, who scored Widnes' third try, has been with the club since 2012

Widnes boosted their chances of retaining their Super League place with a victory at fourth-placed Leigh.

The visitors took control of the first half and led 14-0 thanks to three tries in the first 26 minutes from Lloyd White, Alex Gerrard and Rhys Hanbury.

James Clare reduced the arrears for Leigh, but Widnes hit back four minutes later as Corey Thompson went over.

Matt Dawson quickly responded for the hosts but they slip two points behind the top three in the Qualifiers.

Leigh coach Neil Jukes:

"I am really disappointed. Our preparation in the week building up to the game had been absolutely immaculate, but our start to the game gave us too much to do.

"We worked hard to get back into the game but we couldn't crack it and add that pressure. We have not hit the target in enough facets of our game.

"We were out-enthused in certain areas. We had enough opportunities but we didn't make the right choices often enough. At this level you've got to do that and we didn't."

Widnes coach Denis Betts:

"We came into the game with the attitude that we were the better team. We wanted to be a bit more arrogant about the way we carried ourselves.

"Leigh were always within striking distance and injuries meant we lost our shape for a while in the second half. We found some good field positions from completing our sets and we gave ourselves the platform to express ourselves.

"We have put ourselves in a good position (in the Super 8 Qualifiers) but there's still a battle going on. Over the last month we have built some momentum and we are in a good place at the moment."

Leigh: McNally, Clare, Brown, Langi, Dawson, Reynolds, Drinkwater, Tickle, Mortimer, Hansen, Paterson, Vea, Burr.

Replacements: Higham, Hopkins, Stewart, Richards.

Widnes: Hanbury, Marsh, Bridge, Runciman, Thompson, Mellor, Craven, Buchanan, White, Dudson, Whitley, Houston, Cahill.

Replacements: Gerrard, Manuokafoa, Olbison, D. Walker.

Referee: Ben Thaler (RFL).