WINGER Ricky Bailey scored a debut try as Leigh ended their four game losing streak to reach the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth round.

It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t perfect but caretaker coach Kieron Purtill wasn’t complaining after beating the part-timers for a second occasion this season.

Bailey’s try came in a first half which yielded all the points except for Jack Owens second goal after the hour which provided extra insurance.

“It was a good, old fashioned win,” said Purtill after Centurions booked a place in Tuesday’s draw.

“Firstly, both sets of players should get applauded for turning up and putting on a spectacle.

“We have grown men actually shivering away in the dressing room. But I’m really happy with the win.”

A snow clearing effort on the morning of the game ensured the cup tie went ahead as scheduled as other fixtures fell victim to Beast from the East II.

“We prepared as though the game was always on,” added Purtill after securing his first win since replacing Neil Jukes.

“We knew conditions weren’t going to be great. Everyone knows what the hill is like at Batley and we had spoken about that during the week as well.

“It was about getting our attitude right, turning up and getting the win.”

After the previous week’s debacle at Halifax, Purtill rang the changes with Bailey, Nick Gregson, Nathan Mason, Kyle Lovett and Jordan Dezaria all playing important minutes.

And the fresh blood helped secure a victory to lift spirits and hopefully add much needed impetus to Leigh’s Championship campaign.

A high tackle on Michael Ward led to the game’s first points from a Patch Walker penalty after seven minutes.

Play the ball interference allowed Walker a second penalty chance which he duly dispatched after 15 minutes to make it 4-0.

Leigh had their first real attacking set after the Bulldogs fumbled the re-start. But stout defence kept out Owens, Mason and Drew Hutchison before Centurions grabbed a 19th minute lead.

Batley were stretched on their right edge and Bailey celebrated his first appearance with a sniping run to the line. Owens-Hutchison’s latest half back partner-fired over a touchline conversion.

Leigh dominated the second quarter but inexplicably failed to add further points.

Even when Bodene Thompson ploughed over just before the interval hooter, the Bulldogs scrambled brilliantly to prevent him grounding the ball.

The attritional contest continued in the second half though, with the slope in their favour, Batley made more headway towards the Centurions line.

Leigh’s goal line defence remained largely untested and the visitors extended their advantage with a 61st minute Owens penalty.

Batley finally threatened Leigh’s line in the latter stages but there was no way through the mud decorated blue shirted defenders.

Batley; Scott; Reittie, Cowling, Crookes, Galbraith, Walker, Brambani; Rowe, Davey, Ward, Harrison, Day, Chandler; Hemingway, Brown, Tomlinson, Smeaton.

Tries: None Goals: Walker 2/2 Leigh: Mata’utia; Dawson-Jones, Crooks, Evans, Bailey; Owens, Hutchison; Vaivai, Hood, Mason, Lovett, B Thompson, Gregson; substitutes: Higham, J Thompson, Dezaria, Hansen.

Tries: Bailey (19) Goals: Owens 2/2 Referee: Tom Grant Attendance: 606 Half-time: 4-6