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Warrington proved too strong for Super League strugglers Leigh as they won a fifth successive match to close the gap on second-placed St Helens.

Wire ran in seven tries against the winless Centurions despite being without five players on England duty.

Blake Austin and Matt Davis went over in the first half for a 14-0 lead.

Gareth Widdop, Josh Charnley, Danny Walker, Eribe Doro and Tom Lineham added to it in the second half while Leigh scored three consolation tries.

Liam Hood, Junior Sa'u and Mark Ioane were rewarded for their perseverance but Warrington were always able to keep them comfortably at arm's length.

That was despite having to ring the changes with Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Joe Philbin and Stefan Ratchford called up to England's squad to face the Combined Nations All Stars on Friday.

Half-back Widdop finished the night with 20 points of his own before having to go off towards the finish with an ankle problem.

He also provided an assist for winger Charnley to register a sixth try in as many games. But some of Warrington's fringe players took their chance to shine, including Walker and Doro.

Walker provided a vital break and pass for Widdop's try as he slid over by the posts while Doro went over late on for his first try for the club.

Bottom side Leigh lost their 12th match of the campaign as their winless run continued, but they had their moments of concerted pressure and scored the first points of the second half when Hood bagged their first try.

Warrington: Thewlis, Lineham, Mamo, Wrench, Charnley, Austin, Widdop, Hill, Walker, Akauola, Longstaff, Hughes, Davis.

Interchanges: Butler, Dean, Doro, Robson.

Leigh: Brierley, Russell, Thornley, Sa'u, Mullen, Mellor, Reynolds, Bell, Gee, Hellewell, McCarthy, Hood, Ioane.

Interchanges: Thompson, Wildie, Peteru, Mason.

Referee: Jack Smith (RFL)