Dewsbury Rams 22 Leigh Centurions 40: Dewsbury Rams fight all the way but suffer relegation

But the Rams did not go down without a gallant effort and showed determination right up until the final whistle.

The home side started well with some good early pressure but it was visitors Leigh who chalked up the first points of the evening with a try from James Taylor.

The Rams looked in determined mood and their early efforts paid off when a superb break from James Craven coupled with Austin Buchanan’s juggling skills created a try for Ayden Faal.

The Centurions increased their lead further through centres Stuart Donlan and Mick Nanyn who bagged a try apiece but this only seemed to spur on Warren Jowitt’s Rams side with Rob Spicer leading the way forward.

Mark Barlow showed superb vision and picked out Michael Wainwright ,who scorched in out wide, and the Rams were back on the rampage moments later and were awarded a penalty try when Nicholson dived over when the ball was illegally dislodged.

Pat Walker notched a penalty to edge Dewsbury in front before Nanyn grabbed his second and on the hooter a well-judged chip was collected by Buchanan who levelled the scores at 22-22 at the break.

Leigh started the second half like they did the first with an early try, this time for prop Chris Hill who found a big gap in the Rams’ defence to gallop home.

Buchanan went within an inch of pulling a try back for the Rams but knocked on over the line and the Rams could not make the possession count.

Dewsbury’s fate was sealed with Martyn Ridyard and Jamie Ellis going in.

Dewsbury Rams: Craven, Wainwright, Smith, Faal, Buchanan, P.Walker, Brambani, England, Blake, Crossley, Spicer, Lockwood, Barlow. Substitutes: Menzies, Nicholson, Cosgrove, Fletcher.

Leigh Centurions: Donlan, Maden, Littler, Nanyn, McGilvray, Ridyard, Ellis, Hill, Duffy, Nash, Thornley, Goulden, Taylor. Substitutes: Hunter-Paul, Hopkins, Armstrong, Mills.

Referee: George Stokes.