Leigh Centurions 20 Batley Bulldogs 0: Bulldogs draw blank at home of Centurions

But they were still a distant second-best in their game against embattled Leigh Centurions, who revealed after the final whistle that they are suffering from money problems.

Leigh scored two tries in the opening quarter from Matt Gardner and Sam Hopkins with Martyn Ridyard proving a pivotal figure.

After converting both tries to establish a 12-0 advantage, Ridyard then struck a penalty just before half-time to establish a commanding 14-0 lead.

Early in the second half, Batley put plenty of pressure on to the Leigh line, but the Centurions held the Bulldogs at bay and responded in style with a well-worked try from Ryan Brierley, the former Castleford man touching down following good approach work from Ridyard, Andy Thornley and Matt Gardner.

The loss drops John Kear’s side down to fourth in the Championship table.

Leigh Centurions: McNally, O’Donnell, Littler, McNally, Hill, Ridyard, Brierley, Ostick, Beswick, Parker, Lloyd, Briscoe, Hopkins. Substitutes: Nicholson, Thornley, Spencer, Duffy.

Batley Bulldogs: Campbell, Potts, Walton, Maun, Johnson, Black, Moore, Smith, Mennell, Rowe, Bretherton, Davies, Fairbank. Substitutes: Mullally, Hirst, Walmsley, Hemingway.

Referee: M Thomason (RFL).