Kingstone Press Round 17 Match Review – Batley Bulldogs 12 Leigh Centurions 26

It was a wet day in West Yorkshire and that seemed to help the Bulldogs early on but the power, skill and intelligence on the Centurions side meant the scored three tries in a 10 minute second half period to secure the victory.

A much tighter game than most people were expecting saw Batley coach John Kear praise his side “I’m happy with the performance but we need to start getting some points in the league table.”

Leigh got the scoring underway with tries from wingers adam Hodgson and Liam Kay in the opening 10 minutes and the Centurions kept on battering the way at the home sides line, but some great defence kept them out.

The Batley side crossed through winger Wayne Rettie in the 35th minute as he intercepted a Martin Ridyard pass. He raced 60 metres to score. The half time gap was 4 points.

The Bulldogs took the lead after half time as replacement hooker Alistair Leak crossed from dummy half, Leatherbarrow converted for a 2 point lead. The centurions must have been worried when they down to 12 men in the 60th minute when Gareth Hock was sin binned for backchat.

It was a totally different story though as they went and scored three tries while he was off the field. Adam Higson scored his 2nd and 3rd try either side of a Jake Emmitt score in 6 minutes to blow the opposition out of the water. Ridyard converted 2 out of the three.

A mass brawl just before the end with about every player involved meant it was 12 V 11 for the final seconds with Tom Lillycrop being sent off for Batley and Jamie Acton for Leigh, while Gareth Hock was sin binned for the second time in the game.

Jordan Weir