BATLEY BULLDOGS 12 LONDON BRONCOS 64
ALFIE INGRAM, Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Sunday

LONDON earned another dominant win despite some second-half Batley fightback, in a game which featured ten different try scorers for the Broncos.

Following some powerful drives downfield, it took two minutes for London to open up the scoring, with Neil Tchamambe scoring a diving finish in the right corner.

Three minutes later, Ted Davidson scored in the same spot, but James Meadows was unable to convert on this occasion.

Davidson nearly earned a second in the right corner, but the Bulldogs defended well on the line to prevent him from getting over.

The Broncos were looking relentless going forward, and in the tenth minute, Tchamambe scored his second, after again being found wide open on the right edge.

London were pushing Batley hard down the middle, and created multiple chances, before Siliva Havili eventually powered his way through the defence and over the line to score. 

The Bulldogs were struggling to contain the constant attacks from London, and Alex Walker soon also added his name onto the scoresheet, slicing his way through a gap from close range.

Batley hoped to gain some good field position after winning their first penalty on the 30 minute mark, but Josh Woods’ chipped kick to the corner was easily caught by the towering Tchamambe, who won back possession for the visitors.

London scored again shortly after, as Lewis Bienek broke past the defence to touch the ball down from close range.

The Broncos scored once more before half-time; Luke Smith made a break down the middle, before offloading to Finley Glare, who slid over under the sticks, giving the away side a 40-point lead at the break.

Early in the second half, Batley began to see some early spells of possession, and appeared a much improved side compared to in the first half. 

The Bulldogs finally got on the scoresheet in the 47th minute, having worked the ball down the left wing to Jack Hudson, who beat the London defence to score in the corner.

Batley looked to have improved defensively, forcing a couple of errors from the Broncos. The Bulldogs earned a second try in the 57th minute, following a fast break from Joe Burton, who offloaded to Robbie Butterworth, who scored in the corner.

London got back on track minutes later however, and Smith scored from close range after a short offload from Connor O’Beirne.

O’Bierne soon also got his name on the scoresheet, after finding a gap in the Bulldogs’ defence to score under the sticks.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Meadows bombed a high kick towards the left corner, and Elliot Wallis beat his man in the air to win the catch, before sliding over the line.

The Broncos scored once more before the hooter sounded, with Emarly Bitungane breaking through the defence to score his first of the day. This time, Gairo Voro stepped up to kicking duties and converted, securing London a 52-point away win. 

GAMESTAR: Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Gairo Voro always looked dangerous when in possession, constantly making darting runs to trouble the Bulldogs defence, as well as creating multiple try-scoring opportunities.

GAMEBREAKER: Neil Tchamambe’s second try ten minutes in showed that it was likely to be a one-sided game at Mount Pleasant.

MATCHFACTS

BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
2 Joe Burton
23 Felix Ellis
20 Jack Hudson
3 Ollie Greensmith
14 Ben White
7 Josh Woods
17 Liam Kirk
9 Alistair Leak
13 Robson Stevens
11 Dane Manning
15 Nyle Flynn
18 Evan Hodgson
Subs (all used)
15 Lucas Walshaw
16 Michael Ward
17 Mitch Beedle
19 Jonah Parsons

Tries: Hudson (47), Butterworth (57)
Goals: Woods 2/2

BRONCOS
22 Alex Walker
5 Liam Tindall
2 Elliot Wallis
27 Ted Davidson
26 Neil Tchamambe
23 Gairo Voro
18 James Meadows
8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
14 Finley Glare
10 Emarly Bitungane
11 Luke Smith
19 Ben Hursey-Hord
13 Siliva Havili
Subs (all used)
6 Connor O’Beirne
15 Sadiq Adebiyi
17 Marcus Stock
24 Lewis Bienek

Tries: Tchamambe (2, 10), Davidson (5), Havili (19), Walker (24), Bienek (33), Glare (37), Smith (61), O’Beirne (66), Wallis (69), Bitungane (75)
Goals: Meadows 9/10, Voro 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16, 0-22, 0-28, 0-34, 0-40, 6-40, 12-40, 12-46, 12-52, 12-58, 12-64

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulldogs: Josh Woods; Broncos: Gairo Voro

Penalty count: 1-1
Half-time: 0-40
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas