THE HEAVY WOOLLEN derby is one of those fixtures that supporters of both sides put into their diaries prior to the start of the season and a big crowd is expected at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium on Good Friday to see the latest incarnation of a game between rivals who are just two miles apart.
The Bulldogs have registered just two wins from six matches so far this season and their coach James Ford (pictured above) has strengthened his squad with two loan players – Brandon Douglas from Bradford Bulls and Cain Robb from Castleford Tigers.
The Bulldogs are four points outside the play-off places and they urgently need a win in order not to lose touch after going down 40-12 to London Broncos in Round 8.
The Rams have registered four wins from seven games so far and they currently sit in ninth spot in the Championship table. After last week’s late 16-18 defeat at home to Sheffield Eagles their coach Paul March will be hoping they can bounce back from that disappointment and he has named an unchanged squad.
SQUADS
Bulldogs: 1 Robbie Butterworth, 3 Ollie Greensmith, 4 Wesley Bruines, 6 Ben Reynolds, 7 Josh Woods, 9 Alistair Leak, 11 Dane Manning, 12 Lucas Walshaw, 13 Robson Stevens, 14 Ben White, 15 Nyle Flynn, 16 Michael Ward, 18 Evan Hodgson, 20 Jack Hudson, 23 Jay Scriven, 24 Akim Metvejev, 25 Paul Foulstone, 26 Derrell Olpherts, 27 Ronan Dixon, Brandon Douglas, Cain Robb
Outs: 2 Joe Burton, 17 Liam Kirk, 19 Jonah Parsons, 22 Felix Ellis,
Ins: 12 Lucas Walshaw, 25 Paul Foulstone, Brandon Douglas, Cain Robb
Rams: 1 Craig McShane, 2 Tom Delaney, 3 Caelum Jordan, 4 George Senior, 5 Liam Copland, 6 Dan Coates, 7 Jacob Hookem, 8 Luke Nelmes, 9 Jack McShane, 10 Toby Everett, 11 Joe Summers, 12 Luke Mearns, 13 Dec Tomlinson, 15 Jacob Bateman, 16 Louis Collinson, 17 Harvey Roberts, 22 George Rayner, 23 Brad Graham, 28 Jamie Gill, 29 Bailey O’Connor, 35 Danny Addy
Outs: None
Ins: None
Referee: Denton Arnold
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Batley 26, Dewsbury 4 (CCR3, 9/2/25)
Batley 29, Dewsbury 22 (ChR16, 21/7/24)
Dewsbury 24, Batley 4 (ChR2, 29/3/24)
Dewsbury 20, Batley 22 (ChR25, 29/8/22)
Batley 60, Dewsbury 6 (ChR21, 30/7/22)
(at Headingley Stadium, Leeds)
Batley 36, Dewsbury 20 (ChR8, 15/4/22)
Batley 24, Dewsbury 31 (ChR21, 12/9/21)
Dewsbury 10, Batley 38 (ChR7, 15/7/21)
Batley 16, Dewsbury 10 (ChR24, 11/8/19)
Batley 30, Dewsbury 14 (ChR14, 19/5/19)
(at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool)