Leigh Centurions 30 Whitehaven 16: LEIGH will again make their annual pilgrimage to the National League One Grand Final next month.

Finalists for three seasons in a row, and a fourth time in five, the Centurions are old hands at this kind of thing.

But this year there is a difference. A massive difference.

This year they will be starting as red-hot favourites unlike in previous seasons where they were massive underdogs against Huddersfield and Salford.

This year they will travel to Widnes's Halton Stadium on October 10 knowing that if they can reproduce Sunday's form they will be in Super League next season. Whether it be Whitehaven or Featherstone they meet in the final, Leigh will have the psychological edge.

Been there, done that. All they have to do now is learn how to win the big one.

Leigh now appear to be well equipped to make the massive leap into the elite division. The way they mastered Whitehaven indicates that they can go on and win the prize that's eluded them for so long.

Boosted by the return of centres Ben Cooper and Danny Halliwell and hooker Paul Rowley after long injury lay-offs only strengthens their hand. And if they can get Tommy Martyn fit for the big game, they will be holding all the aces.

Cooper, Halliwell and Rowley were all hugely influential figures as Leigh provided a strong start and finish to win at a canter. Inbetween it was nip and tuck as the Cumbrians launched a ferocious fightback after going 10-0 down early on.

But with scrum-half John Duffy at his creative best and second rower Dave Larder playing like a man possessed, Leigh always looked like having another gear should they have needed it.

Coach Darren Abram revealed post-match that he devised a game plan that would give Duffy more time and room to operate. It worked like charm as his wide variety of passes created three of Leigh six tries. Had Neil Turley not had a rare off-day with the boot, Leigh's winning margin would have been even more clear cut. Turley missed with five shots at goal but did come up with two vital field goals, which at the time, were crucial.

It took Duffy just six minutes to unlock the Whitehaven defence for the first time. His perfect pass sent Oli Wilkes striding clear and only a flying Gary Broadbent tackle prevented the second rower scoring himself. But the door was open and a quick ball away from the ruck saw Rob Smyth shot in at the corner.

When Wilkes made another break, Duffy's vision found Halliwell and the centre steamed over unchallenged. Turley's conversion from the touchline gave Leigh a 10-0 lead.

But like the previous three meetings between the sides, there's always a twist. Leigh knew that at some stage the Cumbrians would come back at them, and come back hard.

The response wasn't long in coming. Leigh didn't help themselves by giving away successive penalties to piggy-back Whitehaven to their own tryline and when Aussie prop Ryan Tandy hit a short ball at pace he had the strength to carry three defenders over the line with him. Mick Nanyn's conversion and a penalty soon afterwards cut Leigh's lead to 10-8.

That disappeared altogether when Craig Walsh put in an angled kick for flying winger Craig Calvert. He showed exception pace to get round Smyth, collect the bouncing ball and stride in at the corner. Nanyn's touchline conversion put 'Haven ahead at 14-10.

The final play of the first half saw Leigh sneak back on level terms. Duffy had sent Smyth to within a metre of the line at the right corner before Leigh quickly moved the ball to the opposite flank where Willie Swann spotted the possibilities by grubbering ahead for winger Dave Alstead to collect and dive in at the flag.

When Turley put over the first of his two field goals early in the second half, Leigh took a lead they were never to lose.

Slowly but surely Leigh began to pull clear. When Duffy's short pass got David Larder over and Turley potted a 40 metres penalty, Leigh had opened up a seven point cushion.

Briefly that was back to five when Larder pulled off a try saving tackle on Sam Obst but held the scrum-half down too long and was sin-binned. Nanyn accepted the gift two points.

A second Turley field goal took some of the pressure off and four minutes from time killed the game off with the afternoon's best try. Larder returned from the 'cooler' to send Cooper away before Alstead took up the running to fly past Wesley Wilson and fend off Broadbent before giving in for a glorious try.

With second remaining Larder capped a top individual game by dummying his way over to cement Leigh's victory.

Scorers: Leigh - Tries: Smyth (6), Halliwell (11), Alstead (40, 76), Larder 52, 79). Gls: Turley 2/7. FG: Turley 2.

Whitehaven - Tries: Tandy (24, Calvert 32). Gls: Nanyn 4/5.

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

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

Handling errors: Leigh 6, Whitehaven 10.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 10, Whitehaven 11.

Half time: 14-14

Full time: 30-16

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)

Attendance: 4566

Man

JUST when everyone was worrying about Whitehaven playmaker Sam Obst, opposite number John Duffy came up with the sort of performance the deserves to be showcased in Super League.

Magic

DAVID Alstead's second try. Perfect build-up by Leigh, perfect execution by the winger and a perfect finish to the game.

Moan

WHITEHAVEN'S moaning about referee Steve Ganson's performance. Give me this anytime rather than what Leigh generally have to endure.