Championship play-off final: Leigh 44-12 Batley Bulldogs - Adrian Lam's Centurions march back to Super League
- Published
Caleb Aekins scored Leigh's fourth try within seconds of the second-half restart
Championship play-off final: |
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Leigh (18) 44 |
Tries: Inu 2, Lam, Wardle, Aekins, Mellor, MacDonald, O'Donnell Goals: Inu 6 |
Batley (0) 12 |
Tries: Morton, Gledhill Goals: Gilmore 2 |
Leigh Centurions booked their place back in Super League as they scorched eight tries past Batley Bulldogs to win the Championship play-off final.
A year on from being relegated for the third time, they booked an immediate return - but they were given a good battle by the brave Bulldogs.
Lachlan Lam, Kristian Inu and Joe Wardle all crossed before the break.
Inu, Caleb Aekins, Joe Mellor, Nene MacDonald, and Kai O'Donnell then added five more tries in the second half.
Having got one back through Dale Morton, Leigh at least had the honour of the final score of the night when Adam Gledhill went over late on for their second try.
But it could not take the gloss off a great night for Leigh - and their coach Adrian Lam, who confirmed before the game that he had signed a new two-year deal.
The former Wigan boss' sole quest will now be to become the first Leigh coach not to suffer instant relegation from Super League, as has happened on their three previous visits.
Coach's son Lachlan Lam got Leigh off and running with their first try of the night
But he has built a good side at Leigh Sports Village as the Championship and 1895 Cup winners had already shown.
And although Leigh have twice before won promotion in 2004 and 2016, this night was a lot more exciting a night for their fans under the lights than the way they last went up in 2020 on a Super League boardroom show of hands in place of Toronto.
Leigh had lost just one of their 27 games during the regular season to finish five points clear of nearest rivals Featherstone Rovers - and 16 ahead of fifth-placed Batley.
They also had twice hammered Batley this season, 52-0 over in West Yorkshire in May, then 64-6 in the return less than a month ago.
Admittedly, Batley showed what they were capable of when they stunned Fev in the semis.
But after showing great spirit to keep Leigh out for almost 20 minutes, it was the coach's own son Lachlan Lam who forced the breakthrough.
His high kick caused confusion and, when it squirmed clear, it left him free to race in from 25 metres.
Two more tries followed before the break from Inu and Wardle before Aekins raced 50 metres down the left touchline to get the try count rolling again.
Mellor quickly added a fifth, followed by one for MacDonald and a second for Inu, his 24th of the season which, added to his six goals from eight, took his points tally to 391 for the season.
But, although there was an eighth try off the bench from O'Donnell, Batley's two tries from Morton and Gledhill, both improved by Tom Gilmore, were the very least they deserved.
In the League One play-off final earlier, Swinton beat Doncaster 16-10.
The recent promotion deciders
2020 - Not played because of Covid 19 pandemic
Leigh coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:
"It's been a long season. We've played some great rugby and we've got what we deserved. I knew the buys were going to carry themselves well.
"Batley were courageous and never gave up, but I'm proud of the way the boys have come through and I just feel very pleased for the fans, who were superb, and the owner Derek Beaumont.
"I agreed the new contract a little while ago, but we didn't want to announce it until the job was done - and we've now got some exciting signings lined up.
"I know in my heart of hearts that I made some mistakes at Wigan but I also learnt so much and feel confident I'm now a better coach for it."
Batley Bulldogs coach Craig Lingard told BBC Radio Leeds:
"I'm an immensely proud coach. I couldn't have asked for any more, but it was just a game too far and Leigh were just too good for us. They've been battering teams all season and we certainly didn't roll over.
"We gifted them that first try and that maybe took the air out of our bubble. Things like that change games. It galvanised them a bit.
"Adam Gledhill is one of those unsung heroes. It was great to see him go over but the effort the whole team put in was phenomenal. They worked their blood to water.
"We've over achieved over the past two years. Semi-finals last year, final this year. But now it starts again. Keighley have come up and they're spending some money."
Leigh: Aekins; Inu, Chamberlain, MacDonald, Ferguson; Lam, Mellor; Sidlow, Smith, Amone, Wardle, Stone, Asiata.
Interchange: O'Donnell, Ipape, Reynolds, Nakubuwai
Batley Bulldogs: Hooley; Morton, Buchanan, Hodson, Campbell; White, Gilmore; Gledhill, Blake, Brown, Manning, Walshaw, Reilly
Interchange: Meadows, Leak, Ward, Flynn.
Attendance: 7,233
Referee: Chris Kendall