Cooper’s 12th minute try was well worked and set the tone for the match, and when Tommy Gaughan went over eight minutes later it looked like a thrashing was to be dished out.

Wigan responded though, and loose forward Phil Glover got the first of his two tries two minutes later, with Sam Leech’s goal reducing the deficit to 8-6.

Leigh added to their lead seven minutes before the break through full back Liam Rowson, who went under the posts before converting his own try to leave the score 14-6 at the interval.

Despite having chances to close the gap, Wigan failed to capitalise and when Carl Green went over on 51 minutes it effectively ended the contest.

Glover touched down for his second on the hour mark, and Anthony Hughes also powered his way to the line, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Cooper rounded off an impressive display on 71 minutes to give Leigh east a 26-16 victory.

Elsewhere, ADLINGTON comfortably beat THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS 32-16, LATCHFORD ALBION were beaten at home 24-12 by FOLLY LANE, LEYLAND WARRIORS emerged victorious against BAMBER BRIDGE 33-16 and HINDLEY thrashed CADISHEAD RHINOS 80-0.

CHORLEY PANTHERS had Richard Wareing’s boot to thank after defeating NEWTON STORM 26-18 at Chisnall Playing Fields on Saturday.

Hooker Wareing kicked ten points in total for the home side which proved pivotal after Newport fought back to level the scores in either half.

Chorley got off to a great start when centre Joe Murphy went over after four minutes and he was followed over the try-line three minutes later by full back George Beal. Wareing calmly dispatched both goals for a 12-0 lead.

A resilient Newport came back into the game after prop forward Mike Rossen touched down on 16 minutes and they were back level on 25 minutes through James Walker’s score and full back Matt Stafford’s fine kicking.

Much like the first half, the Panthers started the brighter are were back ahead on 47 minutes when scrum half Paul Jones side-stepped two defenders and charged 60 metres to the line.

Storm again hit back through Mike Rowe’s well taken try on 64 minutes but were made to pay by the clinical Wareing, who first set up Dean Mattinson five minutes later to go under the posts, which he subsequently converted, and then added another penalty to put the game out of reach two minutes from time.

Danny Shaw’s hat trick helped BANK QUAY A to a 52-4 victory over ACCRINGTON PANTHERS, with Steve Bird (2), Dale Hodgen, Ryan Brown, Mike Paget and Alan Clare also on the score sheet for the visitors.

Elsewhere, BURTONWOOD BRIDGE thrashed BOLTON METS 64-4.

FOLLY LANE A v WIDNES WEST BANK and CULCHETH EAGLES v BURY BRONCOS were postponed.

RESULTS

Adlington 32 v 16Thatto Heath Crusaders
Wigan St Patricks 16 v 24 Leigh East
Cadishead Rhinos 0 v 80 Hindley
Latchford Albion 12 v 24 Folly Lane
Leyland Warriors 33 v 16 Bamber Bridge
Folly Lane A P v P Widnes West Bank
Chorley Panthers 26 v 18 Newton Storm
Accrington Panthers 4 v 52 Bank Quay A
Culcheth Eagles P v P Bury Broncos
Burtonwood Bridge 64 v 4 Bolton Mets

FIXTURES

Wednesday 5 October 2011
Leigh East v Bank Quay Bulls

Thursday 6 October 2011
Thatto Heath v Wigan St Patricks

No other fixtures taking place due to the Engage Super League Grand Final.