BATLEY BULLDOGS centre Felix Ellis is having to play the waiting game as he tries to build on a bright but stop-start beginning to his professional career.

The close-season signing from amateur side Dewsbury Moor has made four appearances, three of them wins – over Hunslet ARLFC in the Challenge Cup second round and Swinton and North Wales Crusaders in the Championship.

But he is currently serving a suspension for dangerous contact during the 54-6 home success against Swinton which started with the trip to London Broncos last Sunday and will also keep him out of Friday’s home derby against Dewsbury.

While the 40-12 defeat in London was a tenth of the season in all competitions for the Broncos, it was only an eighth for Batley.

The Bulldogs missed out on their scheduled opening league game due the failure of Featherstone to exit administration and make the second-tier starting line.

Then after the Challenge Cup fourth round and 1895 Cup preliminary round, neither of which they were involved in, came a bye round, making it two weekends running without a game.

While it has given players the chance to get over niggles, it has lengthened Ellis’ enforced absence in terms of time.

Ford is continuing to work with him on the training ground, and said: “I am very pleased with Felix.

“He’s a good athlete, he’s quick and good on his feet and his game is tough. He is really receptive to learning and he has come on loads.

“I think there are another two or three levels in him, and hopefully we can help him get there.”

Ellis featured as a substitute in Batley’s Boxing Day Challenge match at Dewsbury, where they won 18-0 in what was Ford’s first game at the helm.

While there was a meeting in the third round of the Challenge Cup last year, which hosts the Bulldogs won 26-4, the last league Heavy Woollen derbies were in 2024, when Batley lost 24-4 away before a 29-22 home victory.