Whitehaven 12 Leigh 36: James Coyle’s pre-match message to his players had been about their performance against the league leaders.

Whilst last week’s derby clash with Workington was solely about the result, this joust with Leigh was more about how the team stood up to the test.

In fact it was an outstanding effort by the west Cumbrians with the final score-line flattering the Centurions.

All square 12-12 at the break, Haven had the first chance of the second half and if that had been taken, then it really would have been an interesting contest.

As things worked-out, however, the full-time training of Leigh had an effect and with Whitehaven reduced to 12 men over the last 10 minutes, the visitors rather ran away with the contest.

Three tries in the last quarter saved them from any embarrassment with substitute Travis Burns, a recent loan recruit from St Helens, running the show for them.

Burns’ game management was a key factor in putting Leigh in charge. He scored two second-half tries and put two on a plate for his new team-mates, looking every inch a class act.

Whitehaven’s heroes were mainly up-front with big performances from the second-row pair of Ugo Perez and Stephen Fox, backed superbly by Anthony Walker and Ryan Duffy.

In Perez and Walker, Whitehaven have clearly made two excellent signings who can figure prominently in their battle to avoid the drop.

French second-rower Perez, being watched by Catalans chief executive Christophe Jouffret, is held in high regard by the Dragons for his insatiable work rate, with and without the ball.

He was phenomenal in the first-half, here there and everywhere in the Whitehaven cause and inspiring a fight-back after they had gone 12-0 behind early on.

It had looked ominous when Leigh scored two tries in the first ten minutes.

On five minutes Fui Fui Moimoi made a big burst down the middle, had support from Ben Reynolds and Josh Drinkwater finished-off with the try. Reynolds converted.

Whitehaven were in more trouble on ten minutes when a long floated pass by Reynolds put Adam Higson in. Again Reynolds added the extras.

But gradually Whitehaven responded to the challenge and on 17 minutes reduced the arrears after a good spell of pressure. Grant Gore switched direction of the attack and John Paul Brocklebank crashed over. Louis Jouffret added the conversion.

Whitehaven then really got to grips with the game. Perez couldn’t hold a Dion Aiye pass when put into a good position and then a Jouffret kick to the corner was too heavy for Craig Calvert to get on the end of.

Leigh had lost a lot of their early bite and power, as Whitehaven matched them and on 31 minutes prop Dave Weston was sin-binned for dangerous play.

In a thrilling end to the half Whitehaven gained parity just before the hooter through the French connection.

Perez made good yards and then found Jouffret outside. The full-back sold two smart dummies before racing clear to score behind the posts and add the conversion.

Two minutes after the restart Whitehaven could have grabbed the lead. Great play between Jessie Joe Parker and Aiye took them to within a few yards of the line. But as he held the ball basketball fashion and tried to off-load he was tackled, losing possession in the process.

Leigh had clearly been given a tongue-lashing at half time and they responded well after that early scare.

Weston, back in the action, was stopped on the Haven line by a great tackle from Ben Davies but from the next attack Leigh regained the lead.

Burns darted through from Reynolds’ pass and the provider put over the conversion.

It was getting harder by the minute for gutsy Whitehaven as Leigh and particularly Burns, turned the screw.

Some heroic defence kept them out, with Walker particularly noticeable in the amount of consecutive tackles he made.

A 40-20 from Burns put Leigh back in a strong positon to attack the home line and on 66 minutes they scored their fourth try. Some clever footwork from Burns got him past some tired tackles to make the touchdown and he converted himself.

Two minutes later Burns set-up Corey Patterson for a try. Burns converted. There had seemed to be a clear case of obstruction before this score and for making his point rather too strongly, Craig Calvert was sent to the sin bin.

The 12 men hung in doggedly but deep into stoppage time Tom Armstrong went in for the sixth Leigh try, again converted by Burns.

Whitehaven fans had been bitterly disappointed by the last home performance against Dewsbury but this time there was no shame in defeat as the Cumbrians could take pride in their efforts against the champions.

Whitehaven: Jouffret, Ince, Chamberlin, Holliday, Calvert, Aiye, Gore, Walker, T. Coyle, Duffy, Perez, Fox, Brocklebank. Sub (all used) Davies, T. Chapelhow, Carberry, Parker.

Tries: Brocklebank, Jouffret; Goals: Jouffret (2).

Leigh: Smith, Higson, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay, Drinkwater, Reynolds, Moimoi, Hood, Weston, Maitui, Patterson, Hansen. Subs (all used) Frash, Burns, Hopkins, Whiting.

Tries: Burns (2), Drinkwater, Higson, Patterson, Armstrong; Goals: Burns (3), Reynolds (3).

Crowd: 782

Referee: John Roberts

Yellow cards: Dave Weston (Leigh) / Craig Calvert (Whitehaven)