BATLEY BULLDOGS 30 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 34
KEITH McGHIE, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Sunday

FIVE converted tries and two penalties helped Midlands make it back-to-back wins to continue reversing an injury-induced trend which had threatened their hopes of a top-ten finish.

The Avery Fields-based club, whose victory over Goole two-and-a-half weeks beforehand ended a losing streak of five league games, were behind at half-time and facing the daunting prospect of Batley pressing down the notorious Mount Pleasant slope after the break.

But a sterling second-half display, touching down twice while defending superbly, helped them cling on for a victory that completed a double over a Batley side beaten 30-12 in totally different conditions back in February.

The Bulldogs, who began the game one place and just a point behind the Midlanders, fielded two new loanees, Finlay Yeomans and Jordan Williams, while also retaining the services of Finn McMillan.

Jack Hudson replaced winger Josh Cartwright, who had been called back to represent Wigan against Warrington, on the wing, while the Hurricanes were bolstered by the return of former Batley favourite Aidan McGowan, ex-Bradford centre Ross Oakes plus lively halfback Lewis Else.

On a sun-baked pitch with temperatures slightly more bearable than would have been the case a couple of days beforehand, the visitors, aided by a kick-off that bounced into touch, went ahead at the end of the very first set when Matty Chrimes dived over in the corner.

Sully Medforth landed a touchline conversion on the way to seven out of seven successful kicks at goal.

The game was briefly held up through a head injury to Liam Kirk, who played no further part after failing a subsequent HIA, with Williams making an early entrance off the bench.

Notably swift handling enable Hudson to stroll unopposed into the corner and, playing uphill, the Bulldogs got into a position for Dane Manning to touch down again in a similar place with Ben Reynolds cleverly curling in both touchline conversions.

The pendulum swung again in game where the lead switched hands five times, when Jon Luke Kirby scored from close range to help level the scores and Medforth edged the visitors ahead through a 26th minute penalty.

A fine Aiden Roden offload enabled Else to dart in from 40 metres out to increase the Canes’ lead to 20-12.

Robbie Butterworth stemmed the Midlanders’ flow, however, by muscling his way over for the Bulldogs’ third converted try up the slope and, on the stroke of half-time, Lucas Walshaw grabbed a fourth to put Batley back in front.

Moments after the restart, a loose ball deep in Batley territory was picked up by Tom Wilkinson, who spotted the gap and sent the supporting Todd Horner running half the length of the field to touch down.

Moments later another mix-up in the Bulldogs’ defence allowed Oakes to increase the Canes recently re-found lead back up to two scores.

A Medforth penalty, after a ball steal, made it a ten-point ball game before a perfectly delayed Josh Woods pass sent Robbie Butterworth over to narrow the deficit once more.

Finally, with just seconds to play, the Bulldogs thought they might have performed a dramatic last gasp rescue act, only for the referee to deem a lost ball in the melee near the corner flag.

GAMESTAR: Sully Medforth was involved in everything and kicked faultlessly from the tee. 

GAMEBREAKER: Midlands’ defensive effort, conceding just one try facing uphill after the break.

MATCHFACTS

BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
2 Joe Burton
23 Felix Ellis
5 Finlay Yeomans
20 Jack Hudson
6 Ben Reynolds
7 Josh Woods
17 Liam Kirk
9 Alistair Leak
– Finn McMillan
11 Dane Manning
18 Evan Hodgson
13 Robson Stevens
Subs (all used)
12 Lucas Walshaw
14 Ben White
19 Jonah Parsons
29 Jordan Williams

Tries: Hudson (8), Manning (16), Butterworth (33, 68), Walshaw (39)
Goals: Reynolds 5/5

HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
2 Matty Chrimes
3 Ryan Johnson
4 Ross Oakes
23 Aidan McGowan
19 Sully Medforth
7 Lewis Else
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
11 Tom Wilkinson
12 Oliver Roberts
20 Toby Warren
Subs (all used)
15 Elliot Morris
16 Zeus Silk
26 Ethan Newboult
28 Isaac Shaw

Tries: Chrimes (2), Kirby (20), Else (28), Horner (43), Oakes (46)
Goals: Medforth 7/7

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 12-12, 12-14, 12-20, 18-20, 24-20; 24-26, 24-32, 24-34, 30-34

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Robbie Butterworth; Hurricanes: Todd Horner

Penalty count: 5-10
Half-time: 24-20
Referee: Freddie Lincoln