With the current weather conditions putting the game in jeopardy, Mike Hampson and his band of volunteers set about removing over a 1000 gallons of water from the pitch using the mechanical water removers, powered by sheer physical graft. After three hours plus of hard effort, the pitch was playable
It was only down to these men that the match went ahead and thanks are in order.

Leigh faced local rivals De La Salle in a keenly contested match which was fought out to the dying seconds.
The visitors, hell bent on putting the spoke into Leigh's season, set out their stall to close down the high flying home side. Quite willing to concede possession in the rucks, they kept players out in their numbers to effect an excellent defensive shield. Moving up quickly they were always in the face of the Leigh backs.
The lineouts and scrummages were shaded by Leigh from their tenacious opponents. Possession and position was nullified by the visitors aggressive, but fair, tackling.
After absorbing sustained pressure De La Salle hit back at Leigh with some powerful running which had Leigh putting their defensive capabilities to the test.
Shortly before half time a penalty by Rob Drake gave Leigh the narrowest of leads.

Leigh 3 De La Salle 0.

The second half saw more of the same with both sides seemingly unable to make any headway.
It wasn't pretty to watch but both sides had to contend with difficult conditions. Both teams had limited scoring opportunities which went begging with the final pass or wrong options taken.
A foray into the home sides 22, with De La Salle having Leigh pinned down on the defensive, resulted in a well taken unconverted try making the score now Leigh 3
De La Salle 5.
Leigh came back to mount attack after attack against the Salford lads who soaked up everything that was thrown at them. Their backs stood firm and never missed a tackle as Leigh tried to penetrate out wide.
Another sortie into Leigh's territory gave the visitors a five point lead with a converted penalty.
Time certainly was not on Leigh's side, but, with the last play of the game they showed their metal with a try scored wide out by winger Ross Shepherd.
As cool as a cucumber, Rob Drake slotted the ball, from the mud on the touchline & against the wind, between the posts.

There was no time to restart, and the game ended with the opposition shaking their heads in disbelief and the Leigh lads punching the air in sheer elation.

On reflection, Leigh struggled to get to grips with this match and the backs had little opportunity to excel with the heavy pitch more suited to forward play, but all showed determination and guts to the end to grind out a hard fought win.
Once again Graham Robinson and Paul Hampson stood out,
Praise too to De La Salle who gave Leigh the sternest of tests

Report by JD Leake