Liegh or Whitehaven on the up, Cas going down.

[DrewBeliever]

The Rugby Football League have confirmed that the winning team in Sunday’s LHF National League One Grand Final between Leigh Centurions v Whitehaven will be promoted to the Super League competition for the 2005 playing season.

Both teams competing in the title decider at Halton Stadium in Widnes applied for promotion earlier this season and submitted the relevant business plans.

Following a thorough assessment, both clubs have been informed that they have met the criteria for promotion to the Super League competition, subject to each of them completing additional stadium upgrade work.

Both clubs have given an undertaking to carry out this work in time for the start of the 2005 Super League season.

Commenting on the decision, the Rugby Football League Chief Operating Officer Nigel Wood said: “Each club’s application for promotion has been given due and thorough consideration and we can now confirm that – subject to them carrying out the required minor improvements to their respective stadia – both clubs will meet the standards required for the country’s elite professional competition.

“We would like to take this opportunity to wish both Leigh Centurions and Whitehaven the very best of luck for Sunday’s Grand Final which should be a gripping contest between two highly committed teams”.

 

[lolesi]

go haven!

 

[bartman]

Having something to play for is better than not!

 

[Rich]

Go the jameaters!

People seem to think Leigh are big favourites but to be fair at the start of September, Haven were the clear leaders of the comp. If they click and Obst and Walsh are at their best they can easily pull it off.

Hopefully it'll be close, the last couple of finals have been disappointingly one sided.

 

[thescrum.co.uk]

Leigh 32-16 Whitehaven

Leigh have been promoted to Super League after overcoming Whitehaven in extra-time in the National League One Grand Final at the Halton Stadium.
The teams were locked at 16-16 at the final hooter, but Leigh stretched away in extra-time for a famous victory.

Neil Turley was Leigh's hero, scoring 18 points in all and knocking over a 79th-minute drop-goal to keep his side in the match.

The lead changed hands five times in a tense affair before Leigh edged clear.

In front of a capacity 11,005 crowd, Whitehaven made a strong start with Wesley Wilson going over for the opening try after just two minutes.

A Mick Nanyn penalty put Whitehaven 6-0 up after 18 minutes before Turley began the Centurions fightback with a penalty of his own.

Ben Cooper levelled the scores with a try and a Turley drop-goal put his team narrowly in the lead going into the half-time break.

A flowing handling move allowed Whitehaven to regain the lead through Craig Calvert's try, but Leigh again hit back through veteran Tommy Martyn's score/

It's been so close yet so far

Whitehaven coach Steve McCormack
Turley's conversion, followed by a 68th-minute penalty put Leigh back into the ascendancy, but Whitehaven refused to roll over and worked the space for Wilson to cross for his second try and a 16-15 lead.

With the clock ticking down, Turley missed with a long-range penalty but held his nerve soon after to nail a drop-goal and take the match into extra-time.

Leigh gained the psychological edge by scoring first in the added time and never looked back as Cooper and Turley both went over to break Whitehaven's hearts.

Leigh veteran Tommy Martyn said Leigh's win over Whitehaven had provided the perfect end to his career.

The 33-year-old former St Helens player played through the pain of an arm injury to inspire Leigh to victory.

He said: "This is one of the proudest moments of my life to get my home-town team into Super League. To get them to the promised land is unbelievable.

"You put your body on the line and I wanted to put mine on the line to get Leigh into Super League."

Meanwhile, devastated Whitehaven coach Steve McCormack paid tribute to his players' efforts.

"It's difficult but I'm proud of everyone," he said.

"It's been so close yet so far. We had the game in our grasp and unfortunately for us we came up with an error and Leigh kept their composure to get a drop goal to take it to extra-time.

"Our heads went down a little bit but the players have given absolutely everything for this club."