BATLEY BULLDOGS 32 HUNSLET ARLFC 10
KEITH McGHIE, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Sunday
ROBBIE Butterworth scored a vital hat-trick to help Batley survive a difficult day and much Mount Pleasant mud against a fully fired-up Hunslet ARLFC.
On a pitch left very soft by considerable rain throughout three of the previous four days, the Challenge Cup’s first-ever winners in 1897 scored six tries but were rattled by two replies and an unexpected amount of possession from the amateurs.
Batley appeared to have taken control when creating a 16-0 advantage but Hunslet’s refusal to wilt and actual dominance either side of the break gave their Championship hosts some uneasy moments.
At the end of a week which saw stalwart Bulldogs prop Adam Gledhill announce his immediate retirement, the Heavy Woollen district side showed great respect to their NCL opponents by fielding virtually a fully available strength 17. Ben Reynolds was again a notable absentee as the former Featherstone half-back served the last of his four-match suspension.
Three-times NCL Premier League champions Hunslet handed a debut to 17-year old prop Junior Rowse although a massive overturning of staff since meant the side bore little resemblance to that which was hammered 80-6 when the two teams met in the fourth round in 2023.
Taking advantage of the slope, Ben White sent Butterworth scrambling over to give Batley the early advantage.
Josh Woods was unable to convert from out wide but made amends after touching down himself shortly afterwards.
Hunslet’s cause was not helped when prop Jamie Field was sin-binned for a trip and fine footwork from Wesley Bruines enabled Butterworth to claim his second score.
The momentum then switched dramatically after Joe Burton failed to cleanly claim a last-tackle kick.
Hunslet must have been highly encouraged by a lengthy spell of pressure which ensued.
Michael Waite was held up as the visitors forced their hosts to drop-out three times following neat kicks from Lewis Heckford and Harry Shackleton while Batley increased their trauma by conceding several penalties.
The second half began with the increasingly confident amateurs pressing forward in the growing mud-bath and they were rewarded by a much-celebrated try from Harry Dodd.
Shackleton added the conversion and the prospect of a major shock was not out of the question.
Stunned into action, Batley battled to wrest back control of a game they had, at one stage, been bossing.
Woods finally calmed nerves, sending elusive Ben White in before Alistair Leak burrowed over from close range. Hunslet were not finished though and Tyler Dargan chased and got hold of an awkwardly bouncing kick, before slotting a grubber for Lewi Bayliss to ground near the corner for their second try.
However, a Jonah Parsons’ break was supported by Butterworth for his treble to finally seal Batley’s third round tie against Super League’s Catalans Dragons.
GAMESTAR: Robbie Butterworth scored a hat-trick and it proved invaluable to his side.
GAMEBREAKER: Back-to-back tries from Ben White and Alistair Leak just before the hour mark.
MATCHFACTS
BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
2 Joe Burton
4 Wesley Bruines
23 Felix Ellis
5 Kieran Brinning
14 Ben White
7 Josh Woods
17 Liam Kirk
19 Jonah Parsons
13 Robson Stevens
11 Dane Manning
12 Lucas Walshaw
18 Evan Hodgson
Subs (all used)
9 Alistair Leak
10 Luke Cooper
20 Luca Atkinson
16 Nyle Flynn
Tries: Butterworth (9, 28, 68), Woods (16), White (50), Leak (55)
Goals: Woods 4/6
HUNSLET ARLC
1 Josh McLelland
2 Lewi Bayliss
3 Alfie Goddard
4 Jake Dearden
5 Tyler Dargan
6 Lewis Heckford
7 Harry Shackleton
8 Junior Rowse
9 Jayden Barraclough
10 Jamie Field
11 Ben Shulver
12 Harry Dodd
14 Matthew Scott
Subs (all used)
15 McKenzie Haigh
16 Michael Waite
20 Joe Abson
21 Tommy Cork
Tries: Dodd (44), Bayliss (60)
Goals: Shackleton 1/2
Sin bin: Field (21) – trip
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 16-6, 22-6, 26-6, 26-10, 32-10
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Robbie Butterworth; Hunslet: Ben Shulver
Penalty count: 7-6
Half-time: 16-0
Referee: Luke Bland