MICKY Higham summed up the mood as Leigh’s rollercoaster season plunged to a new low at Dewsbury, losing 52-6.

Head coach Kieron Purtill named only 13 players for this penultimate game of the campaign but only 11 finished.

Higham (groin) and Will Dagger (shoulder), back from suspension, suffered match ending injuries against the Yorkshire part-timers.

“Not sure what to say,” was Higham’s response on social media.

“But just a bit numb and deeply sad about the club I love and grew up watching is in the state it is.

“Really hope we come through this on the other side.

“But one thing I can say is the support from our loyal fans today brought a tear to my eye.

“Immensely proud to lead this club out. I’m certainly a Leyther till I die.”

Higham may have to play through the pain barrier on Sunday when Leigh are scheduled to face Featherstone in the Championship Shield final.

And Centurions will hope to avoid adding another unwanted chapter in the club’s history books.

For only the fourth time and the first occasion in 78 years, Leigh failed to play a full complement of players dating back to 1896.

“I thought everyone from the start of the game, their effort and attitude was fantastic and it was real backs were against the wall,” said Purtill.

“Micky was struggling with an injury and stuck it out for most of the game and that’s what’s he’s all about.

“He bleeds Leigh Centurions. People like him want to play for this club and give 100 percent every time they go out.

“I’m really proud of each and every one of them out there.

“It’s been a tough few weeks and before they all went out there I thanked them from the bottom of my heart for playing.

“We want to get to the end of the year and not give in. The fans who turned up and followed us have been brilliant.

“Leigh is a big club and it’s just bubbling under the surface.

“It’s been through tough times before and come through it and I’m sure we can do the same again and come back even stronger.”

Ironically, the Rams’ nine try victory was the last in charge for coach and former Leigh boss, Neil Kelly.

Aaron Brown (2), Paul Sykes and Josh Gudzek touched down in the first period with ex England star, Sykes, also kicking five goals.

Dewsbury piled on the agony after the interval with Guzdek, James Glover, Adam Ryder and Rob Worrincy notching further tries.

A major massacre looked on the cards. Instead, Jamie Acton, in only his second game back since a seven-match suspension, finished off Higham’s pass to avoid a whitewash.

And Higham was off the field when Igbinedion concluded the scoring late on.

Match stats:

Dewsbury Rams: Guzdek; Worrincy, Glover, Ryder, Morton; Sykes, Delaney; Trout, Ward, Teanby, Knowles, Walshaw, Brown.

Substitutes: Speakman, Everett, Igbinedion, Richardson.

Tries: Brown (14, 20), Sykes (31), Guzdek (33, 41), Glover (44), Ryder (47), Worrincy (52), Igbinedion (75).

Goals: Sykes (8).

Leigh: Dagger; Whelan, Larroyer, Gregson, Ricky Bailey; Owens, Hutchison; Ryan Bailey, Higham, Johnson, Walne, Blagbrough, Acton.

Substitutes: None.

Try: Acton (65).

Goal: Owens (1).

Referee: Andy Sweet.

Attendance: 999.

Half-time: 26-0.