Celtic Crusaders continued their second-place charge with a hard-fought win over Leigh Centurions on Sunday.

Mark Dalle Cort started the five-try victory with a fifth minute try at the Brewery Field, a win that guaranteed a National League One play-off place.

Leigh's interval lead was due to two tries each by Steve Maden and Lee Doran while Crusaders' Tony Duggan replied.

Duggan added another for the Welsh side and Paul Ballard secured the win before Dave Alstead's late consolation.

"We scored before half-time and that made things obtainable in the second half.

"However, you have to give Leigh credit as they forced a whole stack of goal-line drop-outs and were always in contention."

Leigh Centurions boss Neil Kelly said:
"I set our players a target of four wins from the last six games and we're still on our way to achieving it.

"It was the old game of two halves today, we had the rub of the green in the first half and they did in the second.

"It was a tough contest and an excellent game of rugby league."

Celtic Crusaders: Duggan, Ballard, Hannay, Dalle Cort, James, Quinn, Lennon, James, Budworth, Dean, Beasley, Mapp, Martin
Substitutes: Webster, Flower, Tangata-Toa, Davies

Leigh Centurions: Mort, Alstead, Roberts, Kohe-Love, Maden, Moran, Watson, Morrison, McConnell, Doran, Higson, Taylor, Smith
Substitutes: Thomas, Rudd, Hill, Price

Attendance: 1,359