LEIGH Centurions will face Batley Bulldogs for a place in Betfred Super League after triumphing in their respective Championship play-off semi-finals on Sunday.
Table-toppers Leigh made comfortable progress with a 70-10 thrashing of York City Knights, before Batley, who had finished fifth, sprung an upset by winning 32-28 at second-placed Featherstone Rovers.
Blake Ferguson (Image: Leigh Centurions)
Blake Ferguson notched a hat-trick in Leigh’s heavy victory, and there were braces from Nene Macdonald, Caleb Aekins and Edwin Ipape.
Caleb Aekins (Image: Richard Walker)
Sam Stone, Ed Chamberlain and Kai O’Donnell also registered tries and Krisnan Inu nailed 11 out of 12 conversions for the hosts, who led 40-0 at half-time.
Try time (Image: Richard Walker)
York scored two of the last three tries at Leigh Sports Village, via Matty Marsh and Marcus Stock.
Edwin Ipape (Image: Richard Walker)
Leigh will now host Batley in the Betfred Championship Grand Final next Sunday.
Batley led 20-6 at the break following tries from Jonny Campbell, Luke Hooley and James Meadows, plus two conversions and a penalty by Tom Gilmore.
The score moved to 26-18 after Josh Hardcastle scored a brace for Featherstone, with Craig Hall – who had got a try of his own in the first half – adding the extras, either side of Lucas Walshaw’s effort for Batley.
The away side then went 32-18 ahead with 22 minutes left after Dane Manning crossed, and while Featherstone battled back with tries from Connor Jones and Luke Briscoe, they could not save themselves from defeat.
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