Batley 6 Leigh 36: Centurions march on as Batley swept aside

The Kingstone Press Championship league leaders were too good for the hosts, who missed the influential Ben Black.

It took Leigh just 48 seconds to hit the front, Ryan Brierley scoring a simple try after Martyn Ridyard put Tom Armstrong through a gap.

From then on, the Bulldogs battled admirably to find a way back into the game but were nullified throughout by Leigh’s uncompromising defence.

Paul Rowley’s side extended their lead in the 24th minute, Matt Sarsfield going over after Brierley carved open Batley out wide.

The hosts fell further behind before half-time when Ridyard added two penalties, however John Kear’s side were offered hope when Miles Greenwood raced onto Anthony Nicholson’s chipped kick to score three minutes after the break.

However, the Centurions scored three tries in six minutes early in the second half through Adam Higson, Liam Kay and Armstrong to put the game to bed.

The game turned scrappy thereafter, with Batley centre Lee Paterson being dismissed for an alleged comment towards Jamie Acton, whilst Acton himself was sin-binned for a heavy tackle three minutes before the end.

However, Leigh found time for one more try, Gregg McNally scoring out wide following another flowing move.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood, Reittie, Paterson, Heaton, Finigan, Davies, Leatherbarrow, Smith, Nicholson, Applegarth, Scott, Bretherton, Blake. Substitutes: Rowe, Gledhill, Johnson, Chandler.

Leigh Centurions: McNally, Higson, Pitman, Armstrong, Kay, Ridyard, Brierley, Emmitt, Penkywicz, Hopkins, Sarsfield, Haggerty, Barlow. Substitutes: Beswick, Goulden, Aspinwall, Acton.

Referee: C Kendall (RFL).