LEIGH are back in pole position. But the division's top scorers had the defensive side of their game to thank for Monday's 24-10 win at Hunslet which returns them to the top of the Northern Ford Premiership.

They had to weather a furious second half onslaught before they could be sure the points were in the bag.

An ill-tempered game -- in which rival props Tim Street and Steve Pryce were sin-binned and Chris Ross put on report for a late challenge that sent Stuart Donlan sprawling into the perimeter advertising boards -- was decided only three minutes from time.

Before sub Phil Kendrick crashed through for a try wide out and Paul Wingfield landed his fourth goal Leigh had to work overtime to protect their lead.

While coach Paul Terzis was satisfied with his team's attacking display against last year's Grand Final winners, he pointed to Leigh's defence as the key factor. Any ideas of Leigh being able to coast through the second half were soon dispelled as Hunslet came out a transformed side and quickly closed the gap.

"That stage of the game was a crucial one for us," said Terzis. "They came at us strongly and hard, but it was to our credit that for all their pressure and possession Hunslet only broke our line once.

"We are working on a new defensive pattern in training and things are now beginning to improve."

Yet in the first half Leigh had almost totally dominated. The only surprise was they only had three tries to their credit. In the fifth minute Heath Cruckshank stripped the ball clear and Adam Bristow's beautifully disguised reverse pass sent Dave Whittle over.

Simon Baldwin squandered another good chance when his intended pass for Alan Cross was intercepted, but the unstoppable Bristow set up a second with a thundering break to send Paul Anderson galloping in from 30 metres.

Mick Higham went close from Craig Dean's nicely weighted kick before Donlan's break and neat inside pass sent Wingfield unchallenged to the posts.

But Donlan failed to see the fruits of his labour as he lay stunned by Ross' late challenge.

Leigh held out in the second half to clinch a first win at South Leeds Stadium in four attempts

LEIGH: Donlan; Wingfield, Anderson, Purtill, Cross; Fairclough, Dean; Street, Higham, Whittle, Baldwin, Cruckshank, Bristow. Subs: Ingram, Norman, Kendrick, Leathem. Attendance 1,062