BATLEY had their supporters in raptures when they grabbed a spectacular three tries in six minutes to draw level with Leigh Centurions just before the interval.
But Leigh made the Bulldogs pay for handling and defensive mistakes early in the second half and opened up a lead which was just too great for the Bulldogs to close a second time and the visitors took the points with a 35-22 victory.
Leigh built u
p a 16-point lead with tries from Jamie Smith, Mike Morrison and Chris Hill.
The arrival of the inspirational Ash Lindsay combined with the amazing work rate of Tim Spears altered the one-way traffic and saw Batley start to dictate the exchanges.
Kevin Crouthers was put over the line and a hoodwinking run from centre Ben Feehan enabled scrum half Paul Mennell to add another.
It inspired the Bulldogs to complete the half with a slick 50-metre five man try scoring movement started by stand-off Mark Barlow and completed by centre Feehan. Barlow added the touchline conversion to level the scores.
But Leigh took control early in the second half and build a healthy lead with tries from Ian Mort and Ian Watson.
The Bulldogs eventually challenged with a prolonged siege of the Leigh line which finally yielded a well-deserved try for Spears.
But Watson's drop goal and a final minute Leigh try by substitute Adam Thomas denied Batley a bonus point.
BATLEY BULLDOGS: Preece; Marns, Feehan, Maun, Stokes; Barlow, Mennell; Stenchion, Lythe, Smith, Crouthers, Spears, Toohey. Subs: Lindsay, Gallagher, Potter, Simpson.
LEIGH CENTURIONS: Mort; J Smith, Roberts, Rudd, Maden; Wainwright, Watson; Hobson, McConnell, Morrison, Higson, Doran, A Smith. Subs Thomas, Stewart, Hill, Cookson.
REFEREE: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven)
ATTENDANCE: 1,020
The full article contains 293 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
