Batley Bulldogs 42 Leigh Centurions 20: Bulldogs earn Leigh revenge for Cup exit

Batley Bulldogs took revenge on the Centurions for knocking them out of the Northern Rail Cup last month with a dashing display of power and skill.

Such an outcome hardly looked likely in the first quarter when Leigh, lacking seven regular players, snapped up two early tries, from Adam Clay and Ryan Brierley and had a third disallowed.

But once Batley half-backs Ben Black and Gareth Moore got into their stride the Bulldogs tore the visitors apart.

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Hooker Paul Mennell provided inspiration with a try and Black’s pass gave substitute Adam Scott just enough room to scoot around two players to touch down.

The growing confidence was fuelled still further when Black and Moore each provided openings for Gareth Potts to come from deep and dance over for two tries.

With a 24-8 half-time lead Moore added a penalty for Batley before Leigh took advantage of the following breeze and Mount Pleasant slope to score twice in two minutes. Andy Thornley and Dean McGilvray romped over to claim converted tries which narrowed the gap to 26-20.

Moore led the fightback by gathering a fumbled pass and darting 20 metres for a try and two more thrilling tries in the closing minutes completed victory.

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The first was engineered by Black, who scorched through a chink in the defensive line to give Mark Applegarth an uncontested run to the line. The second was courtesy of a high kick from Moore which was snapped up by Johnny Campbell for a touchdown.

The wingman almost got another as the hooter was sounding but was denied by a late tackle.

Batley: Campbell; Potts, Walton, Maun, Brown; Black, Moore; Smith, Mennell, Green, Bretherton, Applegarth, Lindsay. Substitutes: Wildie, Hirst, Walmsley, Scott

Leigh: McNally; Clay, Littler, Gardner, McGilvray; Ridyard, Brierley; Ostick, Beswick, Parker, Thornley, Henderson, Briscoe. Substitutes: Robson, Hodkins, Nicholson, Gallagher.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).