Impressive Bulldogs overpower Oldham with a stylish victory

Batley led after just nine minutes as Alex Rowe produced a storming drive and stood up in a tackle and offloaded to Mikey Hayward.

He drew the last Oldham defender and sent full-back Dave Scott storming away for the opening try at the side of the posts, with Patch Walker adding the first of seven goals.

Soon after, Joel Farrell drove Batley close before Alistair Leak nipped over from acting half-back and Walker converted.

Batley stormed back up the Mount Pleasant slope and Walker produced a sublime kick over the Oldham defence and Hayward gathered the ball on the full to score a brilliant try which Walker converted from wide out.

Another fine attacking move saw the ball moved through several pairs of hands and ended with Hayward scoring wide out, with Walker tagging on another terrific goal for a 24-0 half-time lead.

Walker got the next try as hecked the ball on and won the race to pounce for a try which he again converted.

Michael Ward and Richard Lepori went over for tries for Oldham, the former converted by ex-Bulldog Scott Leatherbarrow, but the hosts took complete control in the final quarter.

Farrell gathered a pass and raced through a gap for another impressive try out wide and Walker curled over a cracking goal. A 40-20 kick set up another Bulldogs attack which resulted in Smeaton handing off a defender on his way to the line, although Walker was off target with his conversion attempt for the first time.

Leak grabbed his second try, Adam Gledhill went over by the posts and Walker ‘s goal brought up the half-century.

Batley Bulldogs: Scott; Hayward, Smeaton, Cowling, Ainscough; Walker, Brambani; Gledhill, Leak, Rowe, Harrison, Farrell, Manning. Subs: Davey, Lillycrop, Brown, Maher.

Oldham: S Wood; Clay, Tyson, Egodo, Lepori; Leatherbarrow, Hewitt; Davies, Owen, Neal, M Wood, Langtree, Thomson. Subs: Bent, Hughes, Ward, Spencer.

Referee: Callum Straw (Wakefield).

Attendance: 781.