Leigh Centurions promoted to Super League after Grand Final win

They return after a 12-month absence and this time didn’t need any off field assistance to book a return to the game’s top table.

Adrian Lam’s side lived upto its favourites’ tag to overcome surprise finalists Batley in the Million Pound Game.

After Toronto Wolfpack’s demise, Centurions were voted in to join the elite for 2021 but picked up just two wins.

This triumph-a 27th consecutive league and play-off victory-saw Leigh secure promotion in the right manner.

Victory also completed a silverware treble this season after the League Leaders’ Shield and 189 Cup and took them back into Super League for 2023 at Toulouse’s expense.

Leigh certainly didn’t dominate as they had for most of the year. Lachlan Lam’s touchdown was their only reward before two tries in three minutes before the break proved decisive.

Caleb Aekins and Joe Mellor then touched down in double quick time at the start of the second period.

But a landslide win never really materialised as Batley scored consolations from Dale Morton and Adam Gledhill to the delight of their fans.

However, a win at any cost and in any manner was all that mattered and Adrian Lam’s side duly delivered.

Sam Stone thought he’d scored the night’s first try after six minutes but referee Chris Kendall cut short the celebrations with a shepherding call.

The Bulldogs at this stage were far more competitive than this season’s two previous meetings without threatening to register points in front of the North Stand.

But their hard work was undone by a handling error, gifting the opening try to Lam after 14 minutes.

Luke Hooley’s reverse pass bounced off the unsuspecting  Morton allowing Lam to seize on the loose ball and run in unopposed. Krisnan Inu converted from the touchline for his opening goal.

Leigh searched for more points, bringing on Championship player of the year, Edwin Ipape, to add fresh impetus. Ipape and Aekins were held up while Inu failed to ground Lam’s angled kick.

A penalty for offside helped lift the siege but Centurions were soon back testing their visitors’ defensive resolve with Ben Nakubuwai the latest to be denied four points.

Seven minutes before the break Leigh’s pressure finally told again. Lam’s exquisite pass freed Joe Wardle who in turn sent-over Inu for a converted score.

Lam junior was playing a blinder and another assist saw Wardle notch a touchdown of his own three minutes from the break.

It was dad’s turn to stamp his authority on proceedings at half-time, ensuring Leigh came out firing for the second.

Aekins, in what was possibly his final game for the club, sprinted 80 metres after collecting Tom Gilmore’s kick for a stunning solo try within two minutes of the re-start.

Aekins next provided the final pass for Mellor to register try number five before sending over Nene Macdonald for the centre’s 25th try of the campaign. Inu missed his first kick of the game.

Batley avoided a whitewash with a 60th minute try from Morton; the body language of Leigh players registering their displeasure at failing to nil the opposition.

The home side’s response was to score again through Inu while a second Batley try-eventually disallowed, led to a brief stoppage due to a one-man pitch invasion.

Kai O’Donnell scored Leigh’s final try and while Craig Lingard’s side had the last word through Adam Gledhill, the final hooter started the real celebrations led by Leigh chairman and owner Derek Beaumont.

Leigh celebrate (Image: SWpix.com)

Teams.

Leigh: Aekins, Inu, Chamberlain, Macdonald, Ferguson; Lam, Mellor; Sidlow, Smith, Amone, Wardle, Stone, Asiata; substitutes: O’Donnell, Ipape, Reynolds, Nakubuwai.

Tries: Lam (14), Inu (33 and 63), Wardle (37), Aekins (42), Mellor (45), Macdonald (54), O’Donnell (69).

Goals: Inu 6/7, Reynolds 0/1.

Batley: Hooley; Morton, Hodson, Buchanan, Campbell; White, Gilmore; Gledhill, Blake, Brown, Manning, Walshaw, Reilly; substitutes: Meadows, Leak, Ward, Flynn.

Tries: Morton (60), Gledhill (76)

Goals: Gilmore 2/2.

Referee: Chris Kendall

Half-time: 18-0.

Attendance: 7,233.