Leigh Centurions and Batley Bulldogs will head into Sunday’s Betfred Championship Grand Final match knowing that a win will see them promoted to the Betfred Super League for the 2023 season. Here is a closer look at the Championship Grand Final.
Adrian Lam’s side will have home advantage on Sunday, which has been deserved by an impressive campaign in 2022. The Centurions lifted the League Leaders Shield, which became their second piece of silverware as they were victorious in the 1895 Cup back in May.
Leigh ended the regular season with a near perfect record. The Centurions won 26 of their 27 matches with their only defeat coming to Featherstone in Round Two. During that time Leigh scored 1306 points, which included 100 in a single match against York.
On Sunday, York made the trip to the Leigh Sports Village for the Betfred Championship Semi-Final. Former Australian Blake Ferguson scored a hat-trick as Leigh ran out dominant 70-10 victors.
The meeting on Sunday will be the third time the two sides have faced each other this year. The sides first met in Round 11 at Batley’s Fox’s Biscuits Stadium in front of the Premier Sports cameras. Keanan Brand scored a first half as the Centurions kept Batley scoreless during the 52-0 success.
Leigh then hosted Batley on the final day of the season. Leigh once again produced a dominant performance with the Leythers scoring 11 tries during the 64-6 success.
Joe Mellor could make his 250th appearance on Sunday if he is selected by Adrian Lam. Mellor has made 44 appearances for Leigh since joining them in 2021.
It will be a big ask for Batley to topple Leigh, however the Bulldogs have produced a few shocks so far this season.
Craig Lingard’s side ended the season in fifth position with 17 wins and two draws coming from their 27 Betfred Championship matches.
Their defeat on the final day of the regular season, saw them slip from fourth to fifth, which meant they would have to travel to Barrow rather than host the Raiders in the play-off Eliminators.
In a cagey contest, Barrow scored first when Ryan Shaw kicked a penalty after half an hour of the game. With near enough the final play of the half, Johnny Campbell scored for Batley, as the West Yorkshire side went into the break with the 6-2 advantage.
Alistair Leak extended the advantage for Batley, however Ellis Gillam hit back. Leak then crossed for his second as Batley progressed into the Semi-Finals.
Last weekend, Batley registered their second victory over Featherstone this season.
The Bulldogs raced into a 20-6 advantage at the break. Featherstone struck back after the break; however, a Lucas Walshaw try maintained the large advantage. Despite Featherstone’s best efforts Batley held on to the 32-26 victory to book their place in the Championship Grand Final.
Sunday
Leigh Centurions v Batley Bulldogs – 6:30PM – Live on Premier Sports
