Stevie Wonder was number one and Princess Diana had just given birth to Prince Harry when Leigh last won a competitive derby game against Wigan.

But 33 years of hurt and 19 straight defeats were finally brought to a close by this stunning victory over the reigning Betfred Super League and World Club champions.

Centurions also ran up 50 points against Wigan back in January for Michael McIlorum’s testimonial but this is the one that really counted.

“We play Wigan every year and had a few wins against them,” said Wigan born Leigh boss, Neil Jukes.

“But there’s not been much else other than some bragging rights. And this was more than two points for our club and our fans.

“No one can demand a result but in these games, they (the fans) will demand effort. You have got to show you are willing to put your bodies on the line for this town. That’s what I thought they did.

“We have had some good wins before,” added Jukes. “Probably one of that nature was Huddersfield last season because of the magnitude of getting us in Super League.

“Posting so many points in the first half was a dream come true. We have cracked a few records this year but this is a big win for us and a big win for the town.”

It was a memorable night all round for Centurions who dumped Widnes back to the foot of Super League as Wigan failed to win for a sixth time in seven games.

Harrison Hansen marked his 350th career game in the best possible fashion against his old club, ex Wigan star, Danny Tickle, brought up 2,500 career points with his 20th minute touch down while Ben Reynolds kicked nine goals from nine attempts.

Tickle’s touch down also allowed him to move above Sean Long into sixth place on Super League’s all-time points scoring list.

Leigh’s only anxious moments came early on as Liam Marshall’s 18th try of the season looked ominously easy. And then after trailing 18-4 and 20-14, Wigan got back to 20-18 helped by Oliver Gildart’s 44th minute touch down.

But Centurions hit back almost immediately and four tries in 15 minutes, including a Liam Hood double, took the game away from the visitors.

“Can we play you every week,” and ‘we want 50” rang out from home supporters” as Warriors boss Shaun Wane looked on glumly.

It was Matty Dawson who brought up the half century eight minutes from time with his eighth try in six games courtesy of Reynolds’ excellent angled kick. The in-form winger was also responsible for a superb chase to deny Marshall a second try though Wigan finished with a flourish courtesy of tries from Joe Burgess and Josh Ganson.

Nothing though was going to stop Leigh’s famous victory. “We have been in with a fighting chance in loads of games but I am just glad to get over the line,” added Jukes.

Match stats: Leigh: McNally; Dawson, Brown, Paterson, Hampshire; Reynolds, Drinkwater; Acton, Pelissier, Weston, Tickle, Hansen, Stewart; substitutes: Hood, Maria, Burr, Hopkins.

Tries: Hampshire (14), Tickle (20), Burr (24), Brown (48), Hood (54, 57), Paterson (63), Dawson (72) Goals: Reynolds 9/9 Wigan: Tierney; Davies, Burgess, Gildart, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Nuuausala, McIlorum, Sutton, Isa, Wells, Tomkins; substitutes: Tautai, Navarrete, Ganson, Forsyth.

Tries: Marshall (4), Ganson (31), Williams (33), Gildart (44), Nuuausala (59), Burgess (77), Ganson (78) Goals: Williams 1/3; Marshall 2/4 Referee: Robert Hicks Half-time: 20-14 Attendance: 7,080