A spectacular 80th minute drop goal from Eagles scrum half Dominic Brambani sealed the most unlikely of victories for Mark Aston's men at the Don Valley Stadium.

The Eagles were trailing by 22 points to 0 after 55 minutes, but then launched an incredible comeback to take the spoils from this Northern Rail Cup encounter.

The Centurions took the lead after eight minutes, hooker Anthony Nicholson making the break from dummy half and supplying the ball to Sam Hopkins who touched down under the posts, with a suspicion of a double movement.  The referee Robert Hicks converged with his assistant and awarded the try.  Martin Ridyard added the extra two points.

Some end-to-end play followed with handling errors from both teams preventing points being scored, before Leigh doubled their lead after 28 minutes.  Sheffield knocked on close to their own line from a grubber kick, and the visitors punished them through Greg McNally, diving over from dummy half out wide.  Ridyard superbly converted from the touchline.

The first half scoring was completed on 38 minutes, Ridyard this time turned provider with a chip in-field which Hopkins latched on to to score his second try of the game.  The simple conversion from Ridyard sent the teams down the tunnel with the score at Sheffield 0-18 Leigh.

The visitors appeared to have sealed the game eight minutes into the second half when Eagles centre Menzie Yere rushed out of the defensive line leaving a huge gap out wide for Leigh to place a grubber kick leaving a simple task for Ryan Brierley to touch down.  Ridyard missed his first conversion of the game which would later prove crucial.

Sheffield finally got on the scoreboard after 55 minutes, Alex Szostak breaking through the Centurions' so far solid rearguard to register four points.  Simon Brown converted.

The comeback gained momentum two minutes later when man of the match Andrew Henderson scooted away from dummy half to set Duane Straugheir free, who supplied Joe Hirst to touch down.  Brown was again successful with the conversion and the arrears were reduced to 10 points.

The home side could afford thoughts of winning the game when youngster Sam Scott threw the dummy, sold the defence and scored his second try in as many games six minutes before full time.  Brown goaled again and the Eagles were just four points behind.

There was delight in the stands amongst the Eagles fans when Mark Aston's men worked an overlap for winger Vinny Finigan to have an easy run to the try line in the 79th minute to tie the scores.  He narrowed the angle for Brown's conversion attempt as much as possible but the Sheffield stand-off was unlucky to strike the right upright and a draw seemed to be inevitable.

However, Dominic Brambani had other ideas.  The Eagles drove up to the halfway line from the kick off and Brambani launched an audacious 45 metre drop goal attempt which sailed over the crossbar to send players, staff and fans alike into delirium.  The hooter sounded shortly after the drop goal and Sheffield had recorded a memorable comeback, showing all the fighting spirit that is instilled into the team.

The game finished Sheffield Eagles 23-22 Leigh Centurions.

Eagles: Laulu-Togagae, Finigan, Yere, Taulapapa, Morrison, Brown, Brambani, Howieson, Henderson, Higgins, Scott, Knowles, Hirst.  Replacements: Straugheir, Green, Szostak, Hepworth.

Centurions: McNally, Maden, Littler, Gardner, McGillvary, Riduard, Beswick, Spencer, Nicholson, R. Parker, M. Parker, Worrincy, Hopkins.  Replacements: Brierley, Briscoe, Taylor, Gallagher.

Attendance: 1043.