WOULDN'T you just know that a season that's had more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie thriller would come up with a bizarre conclusion.

No-one could have scripted the finish to Leigh's final game of the league programme - unless they had a warped sense of humour.

Leigh's pre-match brief was simple: win the game and win the Minor Premiership. Easier said than done against a resolute Batley team who needed maximum points to book a play-off place and on a pitch and in elements that the Bulldogs know like the back of their hand.

In a matter of minutes Leigh saw a commanding 23-6 lead evaporate to a single point.

With six minutes left Barry Eaton - a player whose scored in every game for the past two seasons - had a conversion attempt that would probably have won it for the Bulldogs. The kick missed by a whisker and Leigh clung desperately to a 23-22 lead.

What happened next was pure farce: leading to delirious joy for Leigh but despair for one of their former favourites.

Sean Richardson allowed Neil Turley's deep re-start to roll between his legs; he fumbled attempting to pick up and then, in trying to retrieve possession, only succeeded in flicking the ball to Oliver Wilkes who crashed in by the posts for the decisive score.

As Leigh celebrated wildly Richardson lay face down on the turf virtually inconsolable.

The cruel twist of fate meant the Centurions had won the Minor Premiership for a second time in four years with top spot only being decided on points difference for the second season in a row.

With a home play-off semi-final to come against Whitehaven in two weeks, Leigh will now be firm favourites to reach their fourth Grand Final in five years.

But what sort of team they'll be able to turn out is anyone's guess. Twenty-one try centre Chris Percival was the latest to be struck down by serious injury; damaging an ankle so badly that he underwent emergency surgery in Dewsbury Hospital on Sunday night.

Fortunately for Leigh they've now got two weeks off before the showdown with Whitehaven. And boy do they need it. Hopefully Leigh can get the likes of Cooper, Halliwell, Rowley and Martyn fit for the 'Haven game - then perhaps it won't be as gut-wrenching as this one.

Leigh relied a lot on perspiration rather than inspiration to sneak this one. Dave Larder and Oli Wilkes were towers of strength in the back row; Dan Potter returned to impress at centre and Neil Turley collected 17 of Leigh's points with a try, six goals and field goal to break Chris Johnson's goals in a season club record.

Opting to play up the slope in the first half, Batley wouldn't have expected to be 21-0 down after 33 minutes. But some excellent finishing from Leigh made sure they were.

A sixth minute Turley penalty goal was followed by the first of two tries from Wilkes who burst between a couple of defenders to touchdown. Turley goaled for 8-0.

Leigh's best move of the match started by Knott and Wilkes on half way was carried on by McConnell and Weston who put sub Heath Cruckshank in. Turley's conversion and field goal soon afterwards made it 15-0.

When Batley hesitated under Weston's deep kick, Percival pounced and was only nailed at the corner flag. But Leigh had the 'Dogs stretched and quickly fanned the ball to the opposite side where Potter neatly off-loaded for Turley to score another six-pointer.

After defending strongly when required, Leigh let Batley in for a soft try just before half time when Chris Molyneux was allowed to slip a pass away for Kris Lythe to dive in for a try goaled by Eaton.

Leigh found it difficult to make much headway up the slope and into the wind in the second half. Their only success was a Turley penalty after 53 minutes which edged them out to 23-6.

If they thought they'd done enough, Batley had other ideas. A burst of three tries had Leigh on the brink of defeat.

The first doubts started to creep in when Mark Toohey slipped one tackle and sent Lythe under the posts. The alarm bells were ringing loud and clear when Lythe went over again from dummy half to close the gap still further. And when Danny Maun made it three tries in 11 minutes, Leigh were shot.

But fortune was their ally. Eaton's touchline conversion attempt drifted wide on the wind and then their old mate Richardson came up with the howler that let them off the hook.

Scorers: Leigh - Tries: Wilkes (14, 78), Cruckshank (22), Turley (33). Gls: Turley 6/6. FG: Turley.

Batley - Tries: Lythe (38, 66, 70), Maun (74). Gls: Eaton 3/4.

Batley: Sibson; Powell, Royston, Spink, Flynn; Maun, Eaton; Hill, Lythe, Wright, Harrison, Spears, Horsley. Subs (all used): Toohey, Richardson, Shilabeer, Molyneux.

Leigh: Turley; Smyth, Potter, Percival, Alstead; Weston, Duffy; Knox, McConnell, Sturm, Larder, Wilkes, Knott. Subs (all used): Govin, Isakka, Marshall, Cruckshank.

Handling errors: Leigh 8, Batley 9.

Penalties conceded: Leigh 8. Batley 6.

Half time: 21-6

Full time: 29-22

Referee: Mike Dawber (Wigan).

Attendance: 1719

Man

WILKES by a mile. His workrate in defence was only matched by his willingness to chase a lost cause and snatch a dramatic late decider.

Magic

RICHARDSON'S howler. It might have reduced him to tears but it brought tears of joy in the Leigh camp.

Moan

THE way Batley opened Leigh up so easily in the closing stages. It will be a worry to the coaching staff and give encouragement to everyone else left in the play-offs.