But they put up a gutsy display as injuries ripped into their side and they could so easily have taken a sensational victory against the fifth-placed Cumbrians.


However they could not match the devastating speed of Whitehaven's four-try wingman, Craig Calvert whose scoring pace on a roasting hot day, also denied Leigh the satisfaction of a bonus point with a last minute touchdown.
On the face of it, this was a disappointing result, but with Andy Hobson, Mike Morrison, Chris Hill, Danny Meekin, Mark Castle and Dave Armitstead all to the fore, Leigh's pack matched the robust Cumbrian six blow for blow, tackle for tackle and drive for drive for most of the 80 minutes despite the home side welcoming back the highly rated Ryan McDonald and Marc Jackson to their talented side.


It was Leigh who scored first with McGraff Leuluai continuing to impress when putting Dave Alstead in at the corner for a try that Ian Mort failed to goal.
Leigh were defending well and loan signing from Huddersfield Tom Hemingway was settling in well, before a speculative kick from Leroy Joe caught Leigh slow to appreciate the danger as Calvert showed that blistering pace to slam the ball down as Alstead and Steve Maden watched in horror. Gregg McNally added the extras for the lead.


Within five minutes Calvert had scored again and McNally goaled to increase the lead, before a third try from Ade Adibisi punished Leigh for a series of errors that constantly pushed them back.
But Leigh's response was almost instantaneous as the impressive Jamie Durbin stepped in for a Mort goaled try.
Nevertheless it was Calvert completing his hat trick when Rob Jackson again put him clear and he squeezed in at the corner. Mort slotted over a penalty on the stroke of half time, but Leigh had it all to do as they trailed 22-12 at the break.
L
eigh made an impressive start to the second half and got a try when Maden romped over, only to see Mort's goal hit the post and bounce out.
Then Ian Watson went haring in for a Mort goaled try to level on 57 minutes.


For a spell it looked like Leigh's patched up side may pull off a sensational victory, but a McNally penalty gave the home side the lead again, before McAvoy evaded the beleaguered Mick Nanyn and put Adebisi in for his second try for McNally to again goal.
Leigh were still hanging on for a bonus point before Calvert's fourth try ended all hope of that.

Leigh: Mort; Stanton, Nanyn, Alstead, Maden; Hemmingway, Watson; Hill, McConnell, Hobson, Armitstead, Leuluai, Smith; subs (all used): Durbin, Morrison, Castle, Meekin.
Tries: Alstead, Durbin, Maden, Watson Goals: Mort 3/5 Half-time: 22-12 Ref: James Child Attendance: 1,310