Logically, perhaps Michael. Although Batley certainly opened it up, down the slope, after they went 12-22 behind. Our defence in their half was brutal, but within 25 yards of our own line, we couldn't seem to cope.

We didn't play well, and after the past week, that's perhaps understandable. However, all credit to a well-coached, honest Batley team, who did extremely well to drag themselves back into it, when their heads appeared to drop after Brierley's try.

Don't want to worry anyone but saw Karl Harrison there today

..and yes I know he is Lee Smiths agent

And isn't his brother Cheif Exec at Batley? Surely Harrison can't be on the radar for a job at Leigh???

I saw John Kear there today. Perhaps we are after him?

Not the best day but far from a disaster when you consider Batley have a damn good record over Leigh over the years.
I felt the officials was a little inconsistent in decision making today, this isn’t to say they was all for or against Leigh or Batley but some inconstant decisions delivered for the same offences, this part of the sport (officials)needs the most money spending on it as these guys need as much help as possible, thankless task as everyone can do it better from the stands.
In terms of our team, Chase wouldn’t have been near the FB position for me as its a waste of his talents and any high ball was dropped v Wigan, to put him in v Batley in February was not the best move, fine coming out with the ball and no problems with line tackling but high ball catching is a specialist thing and its not his strength (nor should it be considering where his talents are).
We looked like a team that had hardly played pre season games (a poor decision to have just 2 in front of fans – behind closed doors doesn’t create the same pressure as if people are watching you)so we was behind the ball before we started, it showed with some rusty performances and a few moves not followed up.
Kicking game was terrible and Batley showed how to deliver a good kicking game using the conditions, completion didn’t seem high in parts of the game and we did far too many blind alley moves (again though more games will see this iron out as players get used to the usual positions of lots of new teammates.
Missed Beswicks guile and Hocks tackling in particular today with McNally sorely missed.
Batley I though played exceptionally well and deserve great credit for delivering such a good team performance.
I suspect Dereks comments was responsible for the extra 10% effort in the Batley team such was the OTT celebrations by them at the end (Btw was it a penalty right in front of the sticks, couldn’t see from where I was what happened) and he will have no doubt learnt a lesson from that and start to be more cautious about what he says as why give the opposition players and coaches more motivation?

Having said that I have also realised that a lot of people in Yorkshire are obsessed with Derek and believe literally every single word they hear and take it all very seriously, of course they also believe everything they read as truth.
With that in mind I have tonight dispatched various letters to addresses in West Yorkshire stating I am stuck in Spain and have no money and requesting these kind Yorkshire folk give me there bank details so I can take out £200.00 for my airfare home and of course on my return I’ll refund them double the cost.
I expect to be a millionaire by lunchtime



Poor result, think a draw would have been about right but still despite the defeat great to see some live RL again

Well said Jenky, but the Yorkshire trolls would have behaved exactly the same way if we had been unbeaten until we lost at Halifax (game 6) They really are pathetic I know. IF we beat Oldham next week, not one of them will visit our forum, apart from saying our superstars should have scored over 80 points.

Sarky so and so

Mr Zilla, you Leighers think you are so Superior, but here's the bad news you are NOT,King Degsy must wake up and smell the Coffee you have been out coached, outplayed, and your fans out shouted by a part time team, get over it , as it won't be your last defeat this season.Fax are the Team of the moment.

Terence, why are you being so judgemental ? I knew how tough it would be today, but THOUGHT we would win. Despite our signings, Neil Jukes has never been a head coach before (apart from at amatuer level).
So am I lying when I say we don't get 'Yorkshire Trolls' NO !!! If Fax had spent the money we have, guess YOU LOT would be all 'sheepish' (ha ha) and not confident at all of finishing in the top 2. I quite like some of your posts on our forum, but your latest one is a rather bitchy one. IF we finish in the top 4, then that will do for me. See you in 5 weeks, all the best pal.

Dave

David my friend,I love the Banter between our 2 Clubs ,I have a great respect for Leigh and the Leigh fans , I have posted on both Forums how I would like Degsy to invest in our Club,I'm not being Judgemental or Bitch, most of my posts are tongue in cheek, meant as wind ups , some Fax fans can't take them though.Indeed I will see you in 5 weeks time , I love meeting opposition fans and want to meet Charlie the Clown, Salfordlad,and Iggy and Oggy, I give Atomic plenty of stick but respect him as a fellow RL fan.Today was day of the Fax , next week could be day of the Centurion , who knows?Maybe Charlie does.

One thing is guaranteed Mick, we are far superior to you, proven by your inarticulate nonsense. Take heed... a wise man once said "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything" so you may as well close your account.

Cheers Terence, once you've met salfordlad (Frank) you'll remember it forever !!!

Well done Batley Bulldogs on a good performance, I said it before the game a great stadium to visit with the best coach in the comp and he out witted us today so big congratulations to John Kear, great coach and good man! It's going to be a long week for us leythers but we go again next week against our big rivals Oldham, I can see more disappointment on its way if we play like that again - Reffy's thought on expansive play ?

Jenky, Rangi clearly impeded the Batley player, after he dropped the kick. As for getting your airfare donated , you are talking about =#FF0000Yorkshire folk - they do have a reputation to maintain!

Can't honestly see you being a millionaire by this lunchtime or any other!!

All the other fans laughi ng at us on this mb, and fb and twitter. Well you cant blame them can you, and of course there is one person we can blame for the amount of bitterness and nasty comments, we all know who that is.

David and Goliath syndrome buddy,let them enjoy it why they can.

Yes Rowley!

Are you trying to say we are the Goliath of the rugby world? Jesus it's no wonder everybody is laughing at our defeat.

Spot on! If he gives it, he has to take it. Unfortunately, so do the rest of us, who have every respect for every other Championship club, regardless of how much money they do or don't have!

And that's why we laugh.

Were does it say "we are the Goliath of the rugby world"...Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em..Welcome to the board.

Guess your fixed odds coupon went down also..

Batley vs Leigh – Leigh by 18

A small man's ad hominem there, Goliath.

Got the intended response,David.

Have to give credit to Batley, they deserved the win. They matched us physically, kicked far better and capitalised on their spells of pressure. If they keep up playing like that I don't think many teams will win at Mount Pleasant this year.

Thought Higham was man of the match for us, everything creative we did came through him, however on the other hand that means our half backs should have done more (despite the admittedly poor conditions). Thought we looked much better defensively than we did in the friendlies. However I was worried about how our wingers kept coming in leaving the Batley man out on his own on the wing, dangerous thing to do, admittedly it was when Higson went off & Ryan moved out to the wing and didn't come in that Batley made their break to score the winning try.
Despite being made a bit of a scapegoat and admittedly I wouldn't play Rangi at full back I thought he had a decent game there. Made some good meters and half breaks returning with the ball, looked good ball in hand with his passing, OK he dropped difficult pressure kicks in wet windy cold conditions but that doesn't undo the good work he did nor does it mean he's to blame for the defeat.

Thought on the whole the ref was OK & fair (seen far worse) however he got some really key decisions wrong in particularly Batley's 1st try where there was a foot of clear grass between the player & the try line! Partly that could have been an over reliance on his touch judge who was utterly hopeless. Can't blame him though we should have done far better & Batley deserved the win.

We know full well it's not how you start a season but how you finish & there's an awful lot of Rugby to be played.