THE closest-ever Second Division title race saw Keith Latham's side pipped in a photo finish.

Despite attaining 30 points - the same total as Hunslet and Rochdale - Leigh miss out on promotion. And barely had the players left the field after beating Lancashire Lynx 38-24 and receiving a rousing curtain call from the Hilton Park faithful than coach Keith Latham was holding his inquest.

Many supporters possibly felt the performance at Lancashire 10 weeks earlier cost Leigh the championship and a place in the First Division.

But, while that defeat still leaves a bitter taste, the game that Latham looks back on with least fondness was the more recent trip to Batley.

"It still haunts me," admitted Latham ."That defeat cost us the chance of going up. But at the start of the season I said my aim was for Leigh to finish in the top four."

As the season reached its conclusion those objectives were ripped up and new goals mapped out.

However, the two points loss at Batley finally undid all the good work. Just in case Hunslet slipped up against York, Leigh needed to hand the Lynx another away day defeat.

And they managed it with something to spare. Kevin Tamati's visitors crossed the whitewash twice in the closing minutes to add respectability to the scoreline.

"We knew we were going to win this afternoon," explained Latham. "Of the two sides we were much more up for it. And once we took their half-backs (Andy) Ruane and (Chris) Kelly out of the equation the result was a foregone conclusion. It was just a question of how many we were going to win by."

When Leigh led by just four points at half-time the final margin looked likely to be a small one.

Instead, the home side came out in determined mood. Paul Daniel swept in for a try and John Gunning's conversion was the first of five that also included a 46th minute penalty to stretch Leigh's advantage to 12 points.

Gunning had a storming match. But even he was momentarily eclipsed by Safraz Patel's 65th minute touchdown.

The promising scrum half-substitute for Chris Wilkinson picked off ex-Leigh man Andy Ruane's pass and dashed 65 metres to roars of approval from the crowd.

LEIGH - Jason O'Loughlin; David Ingram, David Hill, Alan Hadcroft, Mark Sarsfield; John Gunning, Chris Wilkinson; Tim Street, Nick Jenkins, Andy Pucill, Paul Daniel, Tau Liku, Andy Fairclough. Subs: Safraz Patel, Matt Nixon, Paul Blackburn, James Macaree.

Leigh begin their challenge for the Lancashire Division Premiership at Swinton next Wednesday. Tonight the Alliance side are at home to Widnes and on Sunday the Academy play Barrow.

Meanwhile, agents are wanted in all areas for the Hilton Park Lifeline; call 01942-768861 for details.

Week 49 winners: C Cooney, Chestnut Drive, Leigh (£1,000); S Taylor, St Helens Road, Leigh ((£150); J S Webster, Cherry Tree Grove, Lowton (£100); P Catchside, Elm Road, Warrington, M Gregory, Warrington Road, Leigh (both £50); K Atherton, Railway Road, C Brooks, Royal Drive, J Brotherton, Sandersons Croft, A Stour, Sefton Street, all Leigh (all £25).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.