Batley Bulldogs 36 Dewsbury Rams 20: Hosts battle back to deny Rams victory

It was the first time in four meetings this season that Batley had registered victory in the Heavy Woollen derby but it took until the final quarter for them to click into gear.

Robbie Ward gave Dewsbury a seventh minute lead when he forced his way over following Gareth Moore’s 40-20 kick.

Alex Brown then latched onto Josh Guzdek’s long pass to score in the right corner as Dewsbury led 8-0.

Batley survived a spell down to 12 men after James Brown was sin-binned but they hit back just before half-time when Dane Manning crashed over and Patch Walker converted.

Dewsbury extended their lead with a Dale Morton try, and Paul Sykes converted. Former Ram Jason Crookes sparked Batley’s fightback as he crashed over, Walker converted, and James Brown made a superb break before feeding Reittie for a Walker-converted try.

Manning drove the ball in and flipped a pass out for Dominic Brambani to score, Joel Farrell drove over the line for a try against his former club before Reittie crossed for his second and Walker landed three more goals.

Dewsbury had Macauley Hallett sent off for dissent before Moore was awarded a penalty try when he was impeded having kicked ahead.

Batley Bulldogs: Reittie; Smeaton, Southernwood, Crookes, Ainscough; Walker, Brambani; Gledhill, Leak, Lillycrop, Manning, Farrell, Day. Substitutes: Rowe, Davey, Bretherton, J Brown.

Dewsbury Rams: Guzdek; Morton, Hallett, Squires, Alex Brown; Sykes, Moore; Sheriffe, Ward, Teanby, Spicer, Crowther, Aaron Brown. Substitutes: Speakman, Adamson, Walshaw, Everett.

Referee: T Crashley (RFL).