NORTHWICH held their nerve to preserve their North Two West status.
Blacks will be the senior rugby club in the town for the first time in their history from next season as neighbours Winnington Park prepare to drop down a division.
"It was a magnificent victory," said chairman Sam Naylor following their 22-16 success - their fifth win in six matches.
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"Our position in the table does not do us justice but we are where we are and it all means that we live to fight another day."
In the end defeat would not have doomed them to relegation as Vale of Lune lost at Sandbach but Paul Reid's men kept their side of the bargain too with a stirring display.
It had looked ominous for the visitors as early as the fourth minute when Ian Wood's penalty handed Leigh the lead.
Stacey Hosking levelled with a three-pointer of his own and the remainder of the first half was dominated by Northwich.
On the quarter hour Jonathan Simpson picked up a loose ball to feed Gareth Davies and he set up full back Adam Bown to outstrip the Leigh defence and score a well deserved try.
Hosking converted as he did 10 minutes later when Jan Cartman touched down following a 20-metre rolling maul.
Blacks completed their tally on the half hour when Jamie Miritana broke clear and set up a try for Hosking which this time he was unable to convert.
At 3-22 Leigh could have capitulated but they bounced back.
In first half injury time prop forward Craig Anthony mauled his way over the Northwich line and Wood converted to keep his team in the fight.
The second half was explosive, passionate stuff with both teams playing to their limits.
A Wood penalty cut the deficit to 13-22, forcing Reid to revamp his front row with the introduction of Chris James and Gez Gough.
If anything this put the Northwich pack under more pressure and midway through the second half Wood kicked his third penalty to put Leigh back in contention.
Their fightback ended there.
"Saturday was the culmination of a long, tough season which has been a real learning curve," added a delighted, and relieved, Naylor.
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