Leigh Centurions 36 Oldham 12 by Mike Hulme: CHRIS Percival's first game in over two months brought him a hat-trick and put paid to some stout resistance from Oldham.

Percival returned after a nine-week lay off with a knee injury to score the tries that gave Leigh an eighth successive win and kept them top of the table.

But Oldham, down to 12 men after just 90 seconds, will feel the scoreline does not do them justice.

For over an hour they had Leigh stretched and but for some quality creative play from Tommy Martyn, might have become the first non-Super League team to win at Hilton Park this season. Against his first senior club, Martyn pulled all Leigh's strings. He scored one 90 metre solo effort and provided the killer pass for four more.

Oldham were down to 12 men inside two minutes when second rower Iain Marsh felled Richard Marshall with a high shot and was immediately red carded.

Leigh were quick to take advantage with Martyn sending winger Percival racing in at the corner after just four minutes.

Pat Rich cut Leigh's lead with a penalty goal but by the 16th minute Leigh were 8-2 ahead when Percival went in again after good work by Halliwell, Smyth and Swann.

There was nothing between the sides and after a Turley penalty had made it 10-2 Oldham came back to level with a Neil Roden try and two Rich goals. Two minutes from the break another Turley penalty put Leigh 12-10 up.

Three minutes into the second half Martyn trapped an attempted toe-poke to the line by Watson, picked up and shot 90 metres to score.

Turley and Rich again exchanged penalties before Leigh finally started to pull clear.

With 18 minutes left another Turley penalty made it 20-12 and not long afterwards another cut-out pass by Martyn got Percival in at the corner for his third.

Leigh were now in cruise control and twice in the final six minutes passes from Martyn got Ben Cooper and sub Damien Munro over to give the final scoreline a flattering look.