Leigh Centurions 35, Batley Bulldogs 28 by Mike Hulme

PAUL Terzis has at least another week's work at Hilton Park.

The Centurions coach, who has been told his three-year stint at Leigh will only be extended if his side win the NFP Grand Final, knows his future is on a knife-edge ahead of next Saturday's showdown with Huddersfield at Widnes.

"My future is immaterial," he says. "All that concerns me is getting Leigh into Super League and if we achieve that, then my own future is decided."

Yet there were times on Sunday when Terzis must have feared his Leigh career was over as unfancied Batley gave his side the fright of their lives before booking a second Grand Final berth in three years.

Leigh looked to have the game in the bag with an early 13-2 lead thanks to tries from Dale Cardoza and Adam Bristow, two Neil Turley conversions and a Bobbie Goulding drop goal.

But the Bulldogs, who had won 15 of their last 18 games, came snarling back and sneaked into a 14-13 lead with tries from Kris Lythe and Craig Lingard with Dean Lawford landing three goals.

Leigh responded with a Leon Felton try just before half time to go in for the break 17-14 ahead.

But the Bulldogs were quickly out of the traps again and went in front for a second time when full-back Lingard joined the line and squeezed in at the corner.

Leigh needed all their know-how to get out of trouble and a burst of three tries in nine minutes effectively booked their Grand Final place.

Stand-off John Duffy was a key figure. He set up a try for Dave Bradbury and then put Jon Roper clear to start the move that ended with Oli Marns streaking in at the corner. When Simon Baldwin burst through to score from half way Leigh looked to have the match sewn up at 33-20.

Again Batley came roaring back. Winger Chris North fended off Marns and Turley to score from long range and opposite winger Leon Williamson rocked Leigh again when he got in from Danny Maun's sweet pass.

Leigh edged across the finishing line when Turley landed an 80th minute penalty goal.