BATLEY BULLDOGS 46 GOOLE VIKINGS 10
ALFIE INGRAM, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Sunday

BATLEY secured an impressive victory over Goole in a game in which Ben Reynolds and Robbie Butterworth both scored two tries.

Both sides looked lively early on, but the first chances came from Batley, playing uphill as they attacked the wings, winning a couple of penalties in the process. But just as they looked like scoring, a sloppy pass was capitalised on by Keenen Tomlinson, who brought the Vikings back up to halfway.

Batley regained possession and, after some half-chances, they finally broke the deadlock eleven minutes in, as Robson Stevens broke through the defence to crash over the line.

The Vikings earned a try moments later, after the quick-thinking Connor Barley intercepted a short pass and ran the length of the field to tie the game.

Goole started to return the pressure and found themselves ten metres from the Bulldogs’ line. Callum Rutland kicked a slippery grubber towards the corner, but the Batley defence were onto it before the Vikings’ attackers could capitalise.

As the game progressed, the Bulldogs saw more of the ball and maintained good field position, but they struggled to retain possession with rushed passes.

However, they regained the lead in the 28th minute through Akim Matvejev, who powered his way through the middle of the Goole defence to score.

With under ten minutes to go until half-time, Oliver Greensmith made a break, bringing the ball up to halfway and finding himself in a two-on-one situation. However, he waited too long to get the pass away and knocked on, giving Goole possession.

That error was capitalised on by the Vikings, who pushed forward and scored through Cooper Howlett, but Rutland was unable to convert.

A minute before half-time, Joe Burton made a break for Batley from 60 metres out, getting them to ten metres from the line. Despite some desperate Vikings’ defence, a short cut-out pass put Ben Reynolds through to further the Bulldogs’ lead. Woods’ goal gave Batley an eight-point lead going into half-time.

The second half began and it took Batley only two minutes to score again as they worked the ball down the left wing with flair, and Robbie Butterworth went over for the try after a cut-out pass from Dane Manning.

Batley scored again soon afterwards through Reynolds, who danced his way through the defence to earn his second of the day.

And in the 62nd minute, after strong spells of possession from Batley to get them to within a few metres of the line, Butterworth split the Goole defence on the left side to earn his second.

Minutes later, Oliver Greensmith scored in the left corner after a looping pass from Woods. 

Batley truly ran away with this one, and in the last minute, they topped off a dominant performance with a fast counter-attacking try, as Ben White fed Jack Hudson for their final try.

Woods added the goal and Batley secured an impressive win to put them on the edge of the play-off race.

GAMESTAR: Josh Woods played brilliantly, looking composed in both attack and defence, with multiple tries coming as a result of his sharp passing and ball handling. 

GAMEBREAKER: Ben Reynolds’ try before half-time gave the Bulldogs a more comfortable lead following a close first half, and the Vikings struggled to get back in the game afterwards.

MATCHFACTS

BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
2 Joe Burton
25 Derrell Olpherts
3 Ollie Greensmith
20 Jack Hudson
6 Ben Reynolds
7 Josh Woods
17 Liam Kirk
9 Alistair Leak
13 Robson Stevens
11 Dane Manning
15 Nyle Flynn
18 Evan Hodgson
Subs (all used)
14 Ben White
19 Jonah Parsons
24 Akim Matvejev
27 Ronan Dixon

Tries: Stevens (9), Matvejev (28), Reynolds (39, 52), Butterworth (42, 62), Greensmith (66), Hudson (79)
Goals: Woods 7/8

VIKINGS
5 Callum Shaw
18 Connor Barley
3 Cooper Howlett
4 Keenen Tomlinson
2 Tom Halliday
20 Shane Tuohey
22 Callum Rutland
30 Liam Watts
31 Will Jubb
10 Tyler Craig
11 Brett Ferres
12 Nick Staveley
13 Harry Aldous
Subs (all used)
9 Jeylan Hodgson
23 Ben Dent
24 Alex Holdstock
25 Brad Bullock

Tries: Barley (14), Howlett (33)
Goals: Rutland 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 12-10, 18-10; 24-10, 30-10, 36-10, 40-10, 46-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Josh Woods; Vikings: Callum Rutland

Penalty count: 6-1
Half-time: 18-10
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas