By Matt Lawton
July 18 2003

The Centurions make the long journey to Cumbria to face Whitehaven without several key players due to an ever mounting injury crisis at Hilton Park. Centurions coach Paul Terzis is down to the bare-bones of his squad and has recalled youngster Anthony Blackwood from his loan spell with National League Two outfit Chorley Lynx to try and reduce his selection headache.

John Duffy, Tommy Martyn, Lee Sanderson, Dale Cardoza, Dale Holdstock all look certain to miss out, with Alan Hadcroft and Pat Weisner doubtful, all because of injuries. Also missing for Leigh will be centre Phil Kendrick who serves the first game of his two match ban which he was handed earlier this week following his sending off against Salford City Reds in the Arriva Cup Final.

The selection problems for the Centurions, along with apparently never ending teaming rain in the Cumbrian town, has made an already notoriously tough trip even harder. Leigh have only won twice at the Recreation Ground in the past twenty-two years, one of them being the victory that clinched the Division One Championship for Leigh in the 1981/82 season. Leigh have found the partisan fans and long journey more than a match historically and only went someway to getting rid of their "curse" with victory in Cumbria two seasons ago, although the Centurions lost in both their visits to the Rec last season.

Whitehaven are a very tough side at the best of times, as has been shown in their two performances against promotion favourites Salford City Reds, grabbing a draw in both their encounters against the Mancunians. The Warriors proved a tough cookie to crack at Hilton Park on Easter Monday this season, with Leigh eventually winning 19-12. Whitehaven also made the journey to Leigh for the Arriva Cup Semi Final earlier this season but their large travelling support went home disappointed after a 39-18 defeat.

Leigh will be looking to claim victory to retain their place at the top of the National League One table although they are by no means complacent, despite last weekend's victory away to fellow title challengers Rochdale Hornets.