SHEFFIELD EAGLES 25 BATLEY BULLDOGS 18
DAN FOWLER, MEPS International Home of Football Stadium, Sunday

SHEFFIELD sealed their place in the next round of the play-offs after a second-half comeback.

Batley looked to be in control during the first half – albeit never too far ahead – as their hosts were toothless and one-dimensional in attack while struggling to get into the arm wrestle.

However the roles reversed in the second period with the Eagles having the vast majority of territory and getting over the winning line despite goal-kicking woes.

The Bulldogs broke the deadlock eight minutes in, when a Ben Reynolds crossfield kick was reeled in by Ollie Greensmith. Reynolds added the extras.

Sheffield were looking for an instant response and they got that, following a Greensmith knock-on from Jordan Abdull’s kick-off. They launched a move to the right flank and winger Joe Brown got past his opposite number to dot down. Abdull couldn’t convert.

Neither side were able to keep the fast start going. This was a rather scrappy encounter but one where Batley looked to have the upper hand.

Sheffield’s main tactic was an Abdull last-tackle kick, but there were no mistakes from the Batley backline, with Robbie Butterworth starring.

Batley extended their lead on the half-hour mark. Having made plenty of metres through their pack, it was speedster Mitch Beedle who came up with the goods. Reynolds couldn’t convert.

Batley would surely have taken a six-point half-time lead had it been offered at the start, but they may have been slightly disappointed at not being further ahead.

Sheffield started the second half on the front foot with a 40-20 putting them in prime attacking position.

But Batley survived and subsequently thrived as a seven-tackle set started with Derrell Olpherts making a half-break, only to be brought down by Lewis Peachey.

At the end of the set, another Reynolds kick was collected by Greensmith and his timely offload helped Ben White to four points, Reynolds adding the extras for 16-4.

In the battle of the Butterworths, Sheffield’s Reiss came out on top when his chip-and-chase was knocked on by Batley’s Robbie and a couple of tackles later, the hosts were over as a Reiss Butterworth ball found George Griffin. Lennie Ellis was next up to attempt a conversion, but he missed.

Sheffield cut the deficit further soon after as they gained territory from a loose ball by Olpherts which was knocked on by Greensmith. Billy Walkley took to the sky before planting the ball down. Abdull couldn’t convert, so after three tries apiece, Batley were four points ahead.

After Sheffield missed a massive opportunity with Ellis not passing to the supporting Kai Morgan, Batley kicked into gear and an attack ended with Reynolds kicking a penalty-goal.

However a quickfire home double turned the game on its head during the final quarter.

A cut-out ball from Abdull found Kieran Gill to muscle over from close range. Morgan converted, as he did on 71 minutes following Brown’s second of the afternoon, making it 24-18.

The final word went to Abdull, who landed a late field-goal to put the outcome beyond doubt.

GAMESTAR: Sheffield’s Reiss Butterworth continued his stellar form. The Eagles ramped up their attack significantly when he was on the field.

GAMEBREAKER: Jordan Abdull’s field-goal two minutes from time.

MATCHFACTS

EAGLES
  6 Kai Morgan
  2 Joe Brown
19 Will Oakes
  4 Kieran Gill
  5 Billy Walkley
18 Lennie Ellis
27 Jordan Abdull
22 Masi Matongo
  9 Corey Johnson
10 Martyn Reilly
  3 Josh Hodson
13 Jack Bussey
15 George Griffin
Subs (all used)
14 Reiss Butterworth
16 Blake Broadbent
17 Harry Bowes
20 Lewis Peachey

Tries: Brown (11, 71), Griffin (49), Walkley (54), Gill (67)
Goals: Abdull 0/2, Ellis 0/1, Morgan 2/2
Field-goal: Abdull (78)

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

Tries: Greensmith (8), Beedle (29), White (43)
Goals: Reynolds 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-10; 4-16, 8-16, 12-16, 12-18, 18-18, 24-18, 25-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eagles: Reiss Butterworth; Bulldogs: Robbie Butterworth

Penalty count: 1-3
Half-time: 4-10
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 632