It was Leigh's last league game at their home for the past 61 seasons and with the man who laid the first turf, the ageless Tommy Sale, leading the parade of former stars, it was the present day players who had the pressure on them and they did not let the fans down by grabbing a win.


The result puts Leigh in the box seat for fourth spot and ironically, one final game at Hilton Park in the play-offs.
But to do that they must win at Batley next week, and of all the grounds in this division, Mount Pleasant has been anything but that for Leigh over the years.
Never-the-less the fans – all 3,522 of them – were able to celebrate a victory that gives plenty of hope for a real crack at a Grand Final place.


From one to 17 they battled their hearts out and even when Andy Hobson was sent off in the 52nd minute for what appeared to be a late tackle on Haven's Greg McNally, they never lost their composure and kept their defence solid to keep Whitehaven at bay.
In the final few minutes the bubbling frustrations finally erupted when the visitors hooker Graeme Mattinson kicked Anthony Stewart on the floor, and after a prolonged melee, Mattinson and Scott Teare were both shown red cards as the hooter sounded to end the game. That incident was the third to be put on report by referee Robert Hicks.


Leigh started strongly and forced a couple of drop outs with Watson's and Moran's kicks putting the Haven under pressure. But the breakthrough came on 16 minutes when Moran put Adam Higson in by the posts to celebrate a new contract with his fifth try, for Ian Mort to add the extras.
A crunching tackle floored Whitehaven's Gary Broadbent, and that was put on report and Leigh continued to pile on the pressure. Leroy Joe was a problem from Whitehaven and Spencer Miller, Mattinson and Saia Makisi threatened, but Leigh's defence was good.


Then they scored a peach of a try on 28 minutes when McConnell broke and slipped the ball to Dave Alstead who sped round Adebisi for a second try that Mort again goaled.
But Ade Adebisi responded four minutes later after good work from Joe, although McNally could not add the extras.
That looked like it may be the half time score, but Leigh had different ideas and when McConnell switched play to Watson, his deft pass sent Moran by the side of the posts, with Mort's third goal giving the Centurions an 18-4 interval lead.


Leigh opened strongly in the second half and Toa Kohe-Love stepped through on 45 minutes for another Mort goaled try. But then Hobson was dismissed and Leigh had to dig deep to keep the Cumbrians at bay.
Whitehaven made the on man advantage pay on 66 minutes after Makisi collected a testing Joe kick to touch down, but John Patrick's conversion attempt failed to get off the ground at all.
Leigh-born Andy Gorski was then put on report for a tackle before Mort added a penalty on 72 minutes and Lee Doran crashed in for a well deserved try on 76 minutes to wrap up to the scoring as Mort added his sixth goal.
The final brawl brought the game to a close with Leigh now knowing they may get one more chance to play at Hilton Park.

Leigh: Mort; Alstead, Roberts, Kohe-Love, Maden; Moran, Watson; Hobson, McConnell, Cookson, Higson, Taylor, Smith; subs (all used): Morrison, Stewart, C Hill, Doran.
Tries: Higson (16), Alstead (28), Moran (39), Kohe-Love (45), Doran (76). Goals: Mort 6/6.
On report: Jimmy Taylor high tackle (5), Dave Alstead high tackle (65). Sent off: Hobson for late tackle (52).
Half time 18-4. Referee: Robert Hicks. Attendance 3,522.