Leigh 32, Whitehaven 8 Martin Morgan reports from Hilton Park

Last updated 09:34, Monday, 01 September 2008

Leigh 32 Whitehaven 8: Whitehaven must wait until their final game of the regular NL1 season against visitors Widnes next weekend to make sure of a play-off place after returning home empty-handed from a bruising encounter at Hilton Park yesterday.

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Haven’s Graeme Mattinson, pictured on the attack, saw red at Leigh

Ged Stokes’ team will almost certainly secure a top-six finish, even if only on points difference. But they will be looking to restore a little confidence against the Vikings after yesterday’s heavy defeat.

How they could have done with enforcers Marc Jackson and Ryan McDonald to add weight and a little extra grit to their effort against a highly-physical Leigh pack.

But with those two willing workers out of action, Haven were second-best up front, enabling Leigh half-backs Ian Watson and Dennis Moran to dictate.

Three dismissals – Graeme Mattinson and Scott Teare for Haven, neither of who has a fiery reputation or a long rap sheet, and prop Andy Hobson for the hosts – and three incidents placed on report by ref Rob Hicks, tells its own story.

Hobson saw red for a late challenge on Gregg McNally, while, in the closing seconds, there was a suspicion that Mattinson’s boot made contact with a Leigh player as he too was sent off.

But it was difficult to see why Teare was dismissed when he appeared to be doing little more than protect Mattinson, landing a blow or two in the resulting melee.

The tone had been set in the opening moments when Gary Broadbent was pole-axed in a foul tackle.

Pound-for-pound, there can be no tougher Haven player, but the skipper lay motionless for a moment as he re-gathered his senses.

He soon had to be replaced, prompting a reshuffle with winger Ade Adebisi switching to full-back. The incident was placed on report and Haven awarded a penalty.

Leigh winger Dave Alstead had a try disallowed for offside before Haven prop Karl Edmondson carved a hole down the middle, only for winger Craig Calvert to spill the pass in heavy traffic.

The home side’s breakthrough came on 17 minutes, second-row Adam Hickson running on to Moran’s pass to score. Ian Mort slotted the first of his six goals.

Haven could have reduced the deficit on 24 minutes but opted to run a penalty in front of Leigh’s sticks, with Mattinson held up over the line.

At the end of the set, the hosts were pinned behind their line, prompting a drop-out, with Mattinson again going close from dummy-half.

The visitors continued to apply pressure, but it was the Centurions who were next on the scoreboard, winger Dave Alstead profiting from hooker Dave McConnell’s classy midfield pass.

Haven hit back on 34 minutes, Adebisi slicing through from 30 metres out. But after the stand-in full-back was bundled behind his line in the closing moments of the half, Moran took advantage to score.

The omens were not good for the Cumbrians in the opening exchanges of the second-half, Mort carving them open through the middle, only to throw an awful pass behind his support players.

Mort went close again, moments later, with another breakway, but Andy Gorski retrieved the situation with a timely tackle. He was only delaying the inevitable, however, centre Toa Kohe Love stepping inside three defenders to score.

Leigh were in charge at 24-4, so it was difficult to see why Hobson hit McNally late on 53 minutes to be given his marching orders.

Haven arguably suffered the greater penalty as their young scrum-half had to be replaced and only returned to the fray in the closing moments.

Adebisi was kept busy at the back, and he used his pace to effect when tracking back to stop McConnell barely a stride from the whitewash.

Saia Makisi latched on to Leroy Joe’s grubber to touch down and give Haven a slight chance of a comeback on 66 minutes. With no recognised goal-kicker on the field, John Patrick stepped up to the plate.

But it may be a while before he attempts another, after his effort barely got off the ground, much to the amusement of many Leigh supporters in the crowd of 3,522.

Mort followed up with a penalty and sub Lee Doran then managed to spin out of a tackle to cross late on.

It left time only for the dismissals of Teare and Mattinson.

As Leigh booted the resulting penalty to touch, the hooter sounded to bring down the curtain on 61 years of rugby league at Hilton Park ahead of a move to their new stadium.

It proved an inauspicious match to mark such an occasion.

MATCH FACTS

Haven: Broadbent, Adebisi, R Jackson, Patrick, Calvert, Makisi, Joe, Edmondson, Mattinson, Miller, Hill, McAvoy, Barker. Subs: McNally, Gorski, Teare, Shackley Tries: Adebisi, Makisi

Leigh: Mort, Alstead, Roberts, Kohe Love, Maden, Moran, Watson, Hobson, McConnell, Cookson, Hickson, Taylor, Smith. Subs: Morrison, Stewart, Hill, Doran Tries: Hickson, Alstead, Moran, Kohe Love, Doran Goals: Mort 6

Attendance: 3,522

Referee: Rob Hicks

Star Man: Graeme Mattinson