Widnes Vikings had too much firepower for Super League new boys Leigh Centurions and ran up a convincing 48-26 victory.

The Vikings started the brightest of the two and after a series of powerful drives the Widnes pack led to Daniel Frame opening up a huge gap which was well exploited by Shane Millard for the opening try.

Both teams were reduced to 12 on eight minutes when John Stankevitch and Jason Kemp were sent to the sin bin for fighting.

Then talented Australian stand-off Owen Craigie's perfectly-weighted kick was well taken by Aaron Moule for Widnes' second.

Stephen Myler converted both efforts to give the home side a 12 point advantage.

Leigh hit back in the shape of stand-off Phil Jones after he latched onto Jason Ferris' towering kick.

Then Mick Cassidy's deft pass sent Millard over for his second.

Leigh were again reduced to 12 men on 32 minutes when referee Paul Tavener sent Mark Leafa for a 10-minute break after he took out Myler.

From the resulting penalty Widnes full-back Gary Connolly flew in for his first try in Vikings' colours and six minutes later Stankevitch was yellow-carded for the second time, along with Oliver Wilkes for an altercation on the halfway line.

In the space of five minutes Leigh's Rob Smyth and Nick Owen went over to keep the visitors in touch at the break.

Widnes started to turn up the heat in the second period and two tries in two minutes from Craigie and Paul Ballard gave the Vikings an 18-point buffer.

Tim Holmes and Misili Manu crashed over for another Vikings score to put the game well beyond Leigh's reach.

Leigh managed to grab two converted tries through Jason King, but it proved to be a consolation as Vikings centre John Whittle rounded off the scoring.