Two sides looking for their first points of Super League 2017 were thrown together at Leigh Sports Village in this round eleven, brought forward, fixture as the Centurions welcomed the Leeds Rhinos for their first home game back on the top flight.

Leigh made a handful of changes to the side that were beaten at Castleford last weekend, most notably losing the services of stand-off Martyn Ridyard.

The Rhinos also made changes which included Mitch Garbutt being ruled out through illness after arriving in Leigh and being replaced by Anthony Mullally in the front row, with Josh Walters on the bench. The Rhinos side would be bouyed by the return of skipper Danny McGuire who would start from the bench.

It was a superb start for the Centurions when Matty Dawson found himself on the overlap to take a Cory Paterson pass to touch down one-handed by the left corner flag. Ben Reynolds hit the far upright with his conversion attempt.

Three minutes later and it was a sensational second when Reynolds offloaded to Mitch Brown who pushed away the Leeds defence to score on the line. Reynolds again failed to convert a slightly easier opportunity but his side had an 8-0 lead.

The Rhinos got their first on eleven minutes when Adam Cuthbertson took a Matt Parcell pass to go three metres to score by the uprights. Liam Sutcliffe added the extra two points for 6-8. It took just two minutes for the Leeds second when Ryan Hall went down the left wing, off a Carl Ablett pass, to ground in the corner. Sutcliffe was short with the conversion attempt.

After four tries in the opening thirteen minutes there was a nineteen minute wait for the next score. Danny Tickle had conceded a penalty for a high tackle on Rob Burrow on the half way line. The Rhinos used the possession and tackles before Jimmy Keinhorst pushed between two tacklers to ground on the line. The referee went to the video official as a 'NO TRY' but was over-ruled. Sutcliffe failed with the boot again but the Rhinos were 14-8 ahead.

As the half-time hooter sounded Liam Sutcliffe kicked a fifty metre drop goal to extend the Rhinos lead to seven points.

All the early second half pressure came from Leigh but on fifty-four Jamie Acton was sin-binned on fifty-four for delaying the twenty-metre restart. On the hour mark Sutcliffe kicked a two point penalty after Leigh interference but the Centurions were still within two converted tries of the visitors.

On sixty-seven Leigh hit back when Ben Crooks span out of the tackle of three Leeds defenders to ground on the line. Reynolds added the conversion for 14-17 with just over ten minutes left on the clock. The game was set up for a grandstand finish.

A last ditch Keinhorst tackle on seventh-six kept Atelea Vea at bay as he went for the line.

With ninety seconds left on the clock Sutcliffe kicked a 40-20, and on the attack the Rhinos ran the clock down to seal the win, much to the relief of their coach and travelling fans.

There was very little to choose between these two sides. The Rhinos had marginally the more composure and patience but Leigh had a raw talent and determination which will see them to two points sooner rather than later. There were still plenty of early season mistakes from both sides.

The Rhinos are up and running in 2017 but Leigh will have another chance for their first points with a home game against Saints next weekend.

Centurions: Brown (T), Higson, Crooks (T), Tonga, Dawson (T), Reynolds (G), Drinkwater, Hock, Pelissier, Maria, Paterson, Vea, Hanson. Subs: Hampshire, Hopkins, Acton (SB), Tickle.

Rhinos: Golding, Briscoe, Watkins, Keinhorst (T), Hall (T), Sutcliffe (2G, DG), Burrow, Mullally, Parcell, Singleton, Ward, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Cuthbertson (T), Walters, Ormondroyd, McGuire.

Referee: Jack Smith.

Half-Time: 8-15.

Full-Time: 14-17.

Attendance: 6,692.