York Wasps breathed a sigh of relief as they finally emerged from their nightmare season, but they were unable to do anything to gatecrash Leigh's very own Street party on a day of celebration at Hilton Park.

Fans turned out in force to pay tribute to the champions but the day belonged to veteran Leigh prop Tim Street in his last ever league game. One of rugby league's great characters, big fiery forward Street has announced that he will be retiring after the play-offs.

And there was no denying his moment of glory as he scored two rare tries, took over the goalkicking duties near the end to tag on four conversions and was named man of the match.

It all added up to a party atmosphere as young fans invaded the pitch after the final hooter to slap their heroes on the back.

It was in stark contrast to the Wasps who trooped off the field just thankful to have got through the season.

There was no disgrace in their defeat by a Leigh team who will be red-hot favourites going into the play-offs. Their running and support play was simply outstanding and it was credit to York that they were not beaten by a bigger score.

Like Widnes last week, Leigh were guilty of throwing away some guilt-edged chances. But the Wasps must take credit too for pulling off some fine tackles right up to the last minute which prevented Leigh surpassing the 84 points they scored at Huntington Stadium in March.

It also meant the Wasps just avoided conceding 1500 for the season by one point.

In attack York again lacked the creativity or cutting edge to threaten the Leigh line, their most dangerous moments coming from breaks by lively scrum-half Glenn Matsell in the first quarter. But Gareth Oulton cheekily made sure York had the final say by slotting over a drop goal two minutes into injury time.

It made no difference to the result but at least ensured the Wasps did not chalk up another blank sheet.

That was just reward for some encouraging periods of play in both halves when the Wasps just about held their own.

They were unable to maintain the intensity throughout though as Leigh showed their class to run in some superb tries.

Prolific try-scorer Neil Turley scored a hat-trick in the first half hour, two of them coming in the space of a minute, to take his tally for the season to 54.

In fact, Leigh scored three of their first half tries without York even getting a sniff of the ball.

After Phil Kendrick, Turley and impressive winger Michael Watts had all touched down in the first 15 minutes, Leigh really turned the screw.

Samoan international scrum-half Willie Swann went over from acting half, then on the fourth tackle after the re-start, hooker John Hamilton made a half break and turned the ball inside for Turley to race over from 30 metres out.

Straight from the kick-off, the ball was thrown out wide to Turley on his own 15 metre line and he beat Simon Wray, who went off needing ten stitches to a facial wound as a result, Darren Crake and finally Mike Hall to run straight down the other end and score under the posts.

Simon Svabic added his fourth conversion to make it 32-0 after less than half an hour, then Watts claimed his second before the break for a 38-0 half-time lead.

Alan Pallister almost replied for York within a minute of the restart when he stole the ball deep in Leigh terriotory and made 15 metres but was just caught by the backtracking defence.

Leigh re-asserted their superiority with tries by Kendrick, Andy Fairclough and Chris Morley before they ensured Street made it a day to remember.

Swann should have gone in for his second when he was clean through but, with no defenders anywhere in sight, he stopped a couple of yards from the line to hand the supporting Street a deserved try which earned the biggest cheer of the day, Svabic standing aside to let the ball-headed prop convert himself.

Svabic added the extras to the next try from Dave Ingram but, after he was substituted, Street again took over the kicking and went on to convert his own second touchdown as well as the last two efforts from Ingram and Alan Cross.

That just left time for Oulton to slot over his last-gasp drop goal to bring the curtain down on York's season.

How many of these players will be running out in a Wasps shirt when the new season kicks off remains to be seen but they should all hold their heads up for doing their bit to ensure there will be a next season for York Wasps.

Leigh Centurions:

Tries: Kendrick (1, 47), Turley (8, 26, 27), Watts (16, 33), Swann (23), Fairclough (51), Morley (53), Street (61, 72), Ingram (64, 75), Cross (78). Goals: Svabic 8, Street 4

LEIGH: Neil Turley, Dave Ingram, Phil Kendrick, Andy Fairclough, Michael Watts, Simon Svabic, Willie Swann, Tim Street, John Hamilton, Dave Whittle, Adam Bristow, Chris Morley, Jason Johnson.

Subs: Andy Leatham (Whittle 24), Alan Hadcroft (Turley 62), Alan Cross (Bristow 49), Paul Norman (Street 31).

Re-subs: Street (Bristow 49), Whittle (Svabic 68).

Sin-binned: None

Sent off: None

York Wasps:

Drop goal: Oulton (80mins)

YORK WASPS: Mike Hall 6, Matt Mulholland 6, Simon Wray 6, Gavin Molloy 6, Andy Innes 6, Gareth Oulton 6, Glen Matsell 7, Andy Hutchinson 7, Alan Pallister 7, Andy Precious 7, Darren Crake 7, Nathan Pincher 7, Mick Ramsden 7.

Subs: Andy Innes (Wray 29) 6, Carl Sayer (Andy Hutchinson 35 blood bin, reversed 65) 6, Carl Bristow (Crake 31) 6, Steve Robinson (Matsell 52) 6. Re-subs: Crake (Pincher 50), Pincher (Bristow 76).

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None

Penalties: Leigh 7, York 5

Scrums won: Leigh 7, York 13

Attendance: 2,433

HT: Leigh 38, York 0

Ref: Ben Thaler (Normanton)

Updated: 12:17 Monday, July 02, 2001