Leigh Centurions 32 Whitehaven 16 (aet): LEIGH'S long and winding road to the promised land of Super League has finally ended in glory - but not without another rollercoaster ride of emotion.

After three previous Grand Final defeats their agony was prolonged for a further 20 minutes of extra time before they could kill off Whitehaven at Widnes on Sunday night.

They were behind 16-15 with four minutes to play, and staring at their biggest disappointment yet, when Neil Turley equalised with a long-range drop goal.

Having played their 'get out of jail' card Leigh ran away with the game in extra time with Turley going on to record 18 points - the highest individual total ever in a National League One Grand Final.

Leigh's gamble of playing wounded veteran Tommy Martyn paid off handsomely. Both Martyn and the club insisted that his latest arm injury had hastened his retirement, but driven by his dream of leading his hometown club into Super League, he not only defied doctor's orders but stuck it out for the entire 100 minutes to guide Leigh home.

Martyn, who had already scored a vital try in normal time, produced a piece of magic early in the first period of extra time to get Ben Copper over for a try that signalled the beginning of the end for Whitehaven.

Rather fittingly it was Martyn who scored the final point, smacking over Leigh's fourth drop goal of the night to kick-start celebrations the likes of which the Centurions haven't enjoyed since they won the old Division One championship back in '82.

There's no doubting that it was a fairytale climax to Martyn's distinguished career who had not played for seven weeks after damaging tendons in his arm in a shock league defeat at Halifax.

It was probably that result at Halifax which was Leigh's defining moment of the season. Coach Darren Abram left the Shay that afternoon considering his own future but Leigh quickly re-grouped and have won every match since then.

"It possibly was our turning-point that day, Abram admitted. "The players had got sloppy, careless and were starting to believe all their own publicity. We had a meeting the following night, cleared the air and quickly got back on track.

"Here we are tonight with three trophies in the cabinet and a place in Super League. Mission accomplished."

But if Leigh were all smiles at the end, the tension and weight of expectation threatened to overwhelm them in the first 80 minutes. They were uncharacteristically jittery and seemed paralysed by nerves as they struggled just to stay in contention.

When Whitehaven swept into a second minute lead with a Wesley Wilson try and Mick Nanyn penalty goal Leigh's worst nightmares appeared about to unfold.

With an enthusiastic kick-chase game central to their plans, Whitehaven had all the early momentum. They almost grabbed a second when David Seeds just failed to ground Aaron Lester's grubber behind the line.

Somehow Leigh rose the storm and got themselves a toe-hold on the game with a Turley penalty after Ryan Tandy had needlessly obstructed John Duffy.

It was Turley and Duffy who combined to create the equalising score. Duffy's in-field banana kick was fielded on the full by Turley who made all the running for Cooper to race in.

Turley missed the conversion but nudged Leigh into a 7-6 half time lead with a field goal after a 40/20 from Duffy had taken them upfield.

Just like the start of the game Leigh conceded early. Lester put Seeds away up the left, the centre kicking ahead for winger Craig Calvert to beat Rob Smyth, collect and gallop in for a try goaled by Nanyn.

Leigh could have been even further adrift had Nanyn not sliced a penalty shot well wide after Danny Halliwell took out Sam Obst off the ball. Haven's failure to put on the points when they had Leigh in trouble was to prove a costly mistake.

It was Martyn, whose involvement up to that point had been minimal, who turned things back Leigh's way. A surge upfield by Paul Rowley gave Leigh the impetus they'd lacked since the end of the first half. On the last tackle Martyn took on a back-pedalling Haven defence, stepped inside Leroy Joe and reached out for a vital try.

Turley's conversion made it 13-12 and when he hit a long-distance penalty for 15-12, Leigh were scenting victory.

But somehow Whithaven dragged themselves up off the canvas. After a strong charge by Tandy, Leigh's left-hand defence got in a tangle and Joe and Nanyn combined to get Wilson over at the corner.

Leigh wouldn't be beaten. Another long range Turley penalty drifted a fraction wide but moments later Turley calmly put over another one-pointer to level at 16-16 and take the game into extra time.

Those 20 minutes of extra time were to be the only period of the game when one team dominated.

That team was Leigh.

Rowley put Leigh back in front with a cheeky drop goal before Martyn produced an inspired pass that gave Cooper the chance to stride out of Gary Broadbent's tackle and race in for a decisive second try.

Leigh had their tales up and when man of the match Turley kicked ahead and leapt high above the Whitehaven defence for another try, Leigh were as good as home and dry. Two goals from Turley gave Leigh a 29-16 lead with just 10 minutes to play.

Turley edged Leigh further clear with another penalty and it was left to Martyn to write his name on a piece of history with a late drop goal to end Leigh's 11 year wait to return to the big time.

Scorers - Leigh: Tries - Cooper (27, 83), Martyn (61), Turley (87). Gls: Turley 6/8. FG's Turley (2), Rowley, Martyn.

Whitehaven: Tries - Wilson (2, 71), Calvert (45). Gls: Nanyn 2/6.

Leigh: Turley; Smyth, Halliwell, Cooper, Alstead; Duffy, Martyn; Knox, Rowley, Sturm, Larder, Wilkes, Knott. Subs (all used): McConnell, Cruckshank, Marshall, Swann.

Whitehaven: Broadbent; Calvert, Seeds, Nanyn, Wilson; Joe, Obst; Jackson, Lester, Fatialofa, Davidson, Hill, Walsh. Subs (all used): Miller, Sice, McKinney, Tandy.

Handling errors: Leigh 4, Whitehaven 11.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 9, Whitehaven 6

Half time: 7-6

Full time: 16-16

AET: 32-16

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley)

Attendance: 11,005

Man

rYOU just can't keep a good man down. Tommy Martyn produced a fairytale finish to a glittering career while Neil Turley's thirst for records brought him another - the most points (18) in a Grand Final - but for my money it was prop Matt Strum who deserves the highest accolade. He did it tough when the going was tough.

Magic

rJUST one defence-splitting pass from Tommy Martyn to give Ben Cooper his second try was all it needed. It gave Leigh the confidence to go on and win their biggest game for over 20 years.

Moan

rIF Leigh can find a hard way to win a match they usually will. This was cardiac arrest material.