Armstrong try on Eagles home debut

Batley struggled to break down a determined Eagles defence and when they came close to the line failed to produce a clinical finish.

A scappy, forgettable first half failed to produce a point for either team.

Both teams were guilty of handling errors with Batley’s Miles Greenwood having a try ruled out for a forward pass.

The deadlock was broken five minutes into the second half when given possession by a penalty Eagles’ prop Mitch Stringer was almost under the posts but offloaded to full-back Quentin Laulu-Togagae who squeezed over. Walker added the goal.

Taking the lead injected a more positive edge to the Eagles’ play and Brambani kicked a 40-20.

The half-back made the possession pay following up with a kick to the right wing which was palmed inside by Taulapapa for centre Tom Armstrong to race in for a try on his home debut.

Batley came back when a knock on gave them possession with centre Jason Walton taking a reverse pass to go through a gap. Tom Hemingway added the goal.

Eagles edged further ahead with a low drop goal by Walker 15 metres out after Liam Higgins was held on the line.

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae; Morrison, Yere, Armstrong, Taulapapa; Walker, Brambani; Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Green, Szostak. Substitutes: Davey, Roche, Straugheir, Higgins.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood; Potts, Walton, Bretherton, Johnson; Black, Hemingway; Smith, Mannell, Rowe, Applegarth, Davis, Lindsay. Substitutes: Whitmore, Alex Walmsley. Craig Potter, Liam Walmsley.

Referee: R Laughton (RFL).

P W D L F A Pts

Batley 2 1 0 1 48 23 4

Sheffield 2 1 0 1 23 24 4

Featherstone 1 1 0 0 38 6 3

Hunslet 1 1 0 0 42 12 3

Whitehaven 1 1 0 0 32 22 3

Halifax 1 1 0 0 18 10 3

Dewsbury 1 1 0 0 22 16 3

Workington 1 1 0 0 14 10 3

Swinton 1 0 0 1 10 14 1

Doncaster 1 0 0 1 16 22 1

York 1 0 0 1 22 32 1

Barrow 1 0 0 1 12 42 0

Keighley 1 0 0 1 10 42 0

Leigh 1 0 0 1 6 38 0