BATLEY BULLDOGS 14 OLDHAM ​​​20
KASEY SMITH, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Friday

OLDHAM kept their magnificent league form going with a gruelling win over Batley.

The Roughyeds extended the best winning run they have enjoyed in the league for more than 35 years, making it 13 consecutive victories.

But that remarkable streak was pushed to the limit by a determined Batley side who twice held the lead.

Roughyeds had not completed a double over the Bulldogs since 2001, and with Batley having suffered just two home league defeats all season, the trip to Mount Pleasant always looked like a potential banana skin.

Oldham boss Alan Kilshaw had called on his side to make a fast start before kick-off, but any hopes of that quickly evaporated as three penalties conceded inside the opening twelve minutes handed Batley early control.

A penalised ball strip kept the Bulldogs camped on Oldham’s line, and a slick move involving Ben Reynolds and Robbie Butterworth allowed the latter to break free and open the scoring.

Batley doubled their score to 8-0 not long after, capitalising on a poor lofted pass which was left by everybody but the Bulldogs. Keeping Oldham pinned at the bottom of the slope, they shifted it to the left and found on-loan Josh Cartwright who powered his way over.

Oldham battled their way back into the contest after earning a six-again on the Bulldogs’ line. Matty Wildie spotted Adam Milner in space, and he simply strolled over beneath the posts with Batley’s defence nowhere to be seen.

With the momentum firmly behind them, Roughyeds almost struck again. Luke Forber looked to have produced one of his trademark acrobatic finishes in the corner, but Batley were handed a reprieve when the winger was adjudged to have spilled the ball in the act of grounding it.

The warning signs were there, but Batley failed to respond. Oldham attacked again, and a slick passing move between Matty Ashurst and Jack Walker ended with Ashurst spinning his way over to complete the turnaround, with Morgan Smith’s two conversions edging his side 12-8 in front at the break.

Oldham made another sluggish start to the second half, conceding two more penalties in quick succession. The pressure soon told as Josh Woods floated a towering kick towards Forber, who could only fumble the take. That allowed Ben Reynolds to pounce on the loose ball and haul Batley back level, before Josh Woods took over the kicking duties from Reynolds to slot the conversion.

Having weathered the Batley storm, Oldham roared back into life through the alert Ben Hartill. The hooker spotted a gap and burst through the heart of the Bulldogs’ defence before finding Smith in support. The halfback had too much pace for Batley’s scrambling defenders and raced away to put Oldham back in front.

What followed was an absorbing spell in which both sides traded blows. Oldham went close on several occasions but were repeatedly denied by Batley’s resolute defence.

However, back-to-back penalties eventually handed the Roughyeds the chance to extend their advantage, and Smith calmly slotted over the two-pointer to leave the Bulldogs needing two scores in the closing stages to rescue anything from the contest, and Oldham safely saw out the win.

GAMESTAR: Ben Hartill sparked Oldham into life and brought a much-needed tempo when he came off the bench.

GAMEBREAKER: Hartill’s break for a Morgan Smith try gave Oldham something to hang onto heading into the last 20 minutes of the game.

MATCHFACTS

BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
2 Joe Burton
23 Felix Ellis
20 Jack Hudson
22 Josh Cartwright
6 Ben Reynolds
7 Josh Woods
17 Liam Kirk
9 Alistair Leak
5 Finn McMillan
11 Dane Manning
– Jacob Stead
13 Robson Stevens
Subs (all used)
12 Lucas Walshaw
15 Nyle Flynn
18 Evan Hodgson
19 Jonah Parsons

Tries: Butterworth (12), Cartwright (20), Reynolds (48)
Goals: Reynolds 0/2, Woods 1/1

OLDHAM
1 Jack Walker
21 Tom Nisbet
4 Ben Davies
5 Jake Bibby
29 Luke Forber
6 Morgan Smith
23 Josh Drinkwater
10 Owen Farnworth
9 Matty Wildie
12 Ryan Lannon
11 Matty Ashurst
26 Brad Day
13 Adam Milner
Subs
3 Ben O’Keefe (not used)
7 Ben Hartill
22 Iain Thornley
27 Bayley Liu

Tries: Milner (26), Ashurst (35), Smith (60)
Goals: Smith 4/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 8-0, 8-6, 8-12; 14-12, 14-18, 14-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Josh Woods; Oldham: Ben Hartill

Penalty count: 7-5
Half-time: 8-12
Referee: Kevin Moore