Centurions set up Arriva Trains Final showdown with Reds

Leigh steamed into the showpiece final almost as convincingly as the Reds who demolished Batley 68-6 in their one-sided last-four shoot-out.

The heavyweight contest between the two best teams outside Super League will now ensure a big crowd at Rochdale on July 6 for what could be a dress rehearsal for the Grand Final itself in October.

And Paul Terzis believes that Leigh's experience of playing in finals in recent years will be invaluable.

"We know all about playing in Finals. We've been in two Grand Finals and one Trans-Pennine Final in the last three years so we know how to handle big games and pressure situations. I'm not sure the Salford players do," said the Centurions' coach.

Leigh certainly handled the pressure of a semi-final far better than Whitehaven who arrived boasting the best defence in the entire division - averaging just over 10 points a game conceded. But Leigh's high power, high speed game soon ripped those statistics to shreds and they wewnt on to finish with six tries.

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hitehaven had their moments and gave their large following plenty to shout about, but when it came to the crunch Leigh had too many big game players, big plays and a tight defence at the right time.

"When we turned up the heat they (Whitehaven) just couldn't handle it," said a delighted Terzis afterwards. We scored some good tries in areas we'd identified as possible weaknesses and it's pleasing that we carried out most of what we'd planned for."

Leigh's all-round teamwork was impressive, especially from the pack who not only contained, but controlled, one of the biggest and most mobile sets running around.

Willie Swann was a major influence both in attack and defence and it was his break early in the second half for Phil Kendrick's try that put daylight between the sides.

Alan Hadcroft came off his wing to plug a centre position and came up with a top class defensive effort against David Seeds, one of the best strike players in the division while on the opposite flank Leroy Rivett was a constant threat until damaging a knee 20 minutes from time.

Unsung prop Paul Norman was magnificent in the thick of the action and he was given unstinting support from the likes of Paul Rowley, Dave Bradbury, Sean Richardson and Adam Bristow as they won the battle of the packs.

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owley and opposite number Aaron Lester provided a gripping contest within a contest but it was Rowley who drew first blood when a typical scamper out of dummy half put 'Haven on the back foot. Bristow carried it on and as the defence converged, he slipped a ball inside for the eager Norman to dive in by the uprights. Neil Turley potted the extras and soon afterwards made it 8-0 with a penalty.

Leigh were going along nicely but Whitehaven proved they could play a bit after Bryan Henare was helped off after taking a stray finger in the eye. Leigh were a little slow to see the danger as Leroy Joe drifted across the face of the defence and he sent Mike Whitehead in for a try improved by Darren Holt. Five minutes later Holt's penalty goal levelled the scores.

Terzis' only criticism of Leigh's performance were the soft tries they did concede. "Whitehaven didn't have to work too hard for them and that's a bit of a disappointment. But it's something we came quickly fix."

Either side of half time Leigh showed real quality and came up with two decisive tries.

Turley had already kicked Leigh into a 10-8 lead when Richardson got on the outside shoulder of his marker and put his former Widnes team-mate Damian Munro into open pasture. From 35 metres out Leigh's top scorer did the rest - made in Widnes but finished in Leigh! Turley's touchline conversion made it 16-8.

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hitehaven's lingering hopes were well and truly shot when Leigh struck again a minute after the break. Swann bulldozed his way through the first line before sprinting away, drawing the cover and releasing Phil Kendrick for a six-pointer that opened up a 22-8 lead.

Leigh were virtually unstoppable at this stage and rammed their foot down to the board with a two-try burst. A width of the field passing sequence stretched the 'Haven defence to breaking point and Pat Weisner came up with the money ball to put Hadcroft in wide out.

Weisner added a 25 metres field goal and Turley's tricky footwork created the space for sub Dale Holdstock to continue his impressive tries-per-game ratio,

At 31-8 Leigh became a little sloppy at the back and twice in three minutes they were punished as Graeme Morton and Gary Broadbent crossed in quick succession with Holt adding one goal.

As if to prove a point Leigh finished with a flourish. A Turley penalty gave him sixth success for the day and just before the end Leigh pulled the defence apart again and Weisner cleverly sent Dave Bradbury sailing over for another Turley converted try.

SCORERS

Leigh - Tries: Norman (9), Munro (37), Kendrick (41), Hadcroft (52), Holdstock (60), Bradbury (78). Gls: Turley 7/9, Weisner fg.

Whitehaven - Tries: Whitehead (24), Morton (64), Broadbent (67). Gls: Holt 3/4.

Leigh: Turley; Munro, Hadcroft, Kendrick, Rivett; Weisner, Swann; Nickle, Rowley, Norman, Richardson, Henare, Bristow. Subs used: Ball, Sanderson, Holdstock, Bradbury.

Whitehaven: Broadbent; Wood, Seeds, Hill, Wallace; Joe, Holt; Vaughan, Lester, Fatialofa, McKinney, Whitehead, Purdham. Subs used: Kiddie, Jackson, Smith, Morton.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 5, Whitehaven 7.

Handling errors: Leigh 11, Whitehaven 6.

Half time: 16-8.

Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington).

Attendance: 2687.

Man

rNO shortage of candidates this week with Norman, Rivett, Hadcroft, Rowley and Weisner coming up with quality performances. But for all round quality look no further than Willie Swann.

Magic

rTHE two minutes either side of half time when Munro and Kendrick scored the tries that put plenty of daylight between the teams.

Moan

rTHE loss of Rivett with a knee injury just when the bubbly winger was hitting the sort of form that will test any team in Leigh's division.