Batley 10 Castleford 48: Bulldogs will cash in but crash out to Tigers

The Tigers repeatedly exploited the home side down the left and former England and Wakefield boss Kear could only applaud.

He said: “They found a weakness and went for it again and again.

“It shows how clinical you have to be in elite sport. I thought Castleford were very good. They play a high-tempo game and took their chances well.”

Batley were only 12-6 down at the break but were blown away by four tries in 13 second-half minutes.

Justin Carney scored a hat-trick and former London Broncos star Luke Dorn crossed twice in front of what by Batley’s standards was a bumper 2,482 crowd.

Kear added: “I’m proud of the lads. In the first 10 minutes they were like rabbits caught in the headlights, but they fought like lions to get back in the game.

“But we never had the ball in the second half. And, while I don’t blame the referee, every 50-50 decision went against us.

“Castleford have helped us swell the coffers. But now it’s back to the muck and nettles of the Championship.”

Tigers coach Daryl Powell – who will face a reunion with former club Sheffield Eagles in the next round – was delighted to have avoided a potential banana skin and said: “This can be a hard place to come.

“Batley have made it a tough place for Super League clubs. But I thought the players responded well to the challenge.

“Dorn and Marc Sneyd helped us get a grip in the first half and then after the break I thought we were excellent.”

On the turn-out of supporters, he added: “They’ve come in big numbers and I think it’s great for Batley to have a pay day like this.”

Batley: Greenwood, Paterson, Bretherton, Griffin, Finigan, Davies, Leatherbarrow, Smith, Blake, Gledhill, Martin, Scott, Applegarth. Substitutes: Rowe, Leak, Leary, Chandler.

Castleford: Dorn, Clare, Channing, Shenton, Carney, Sneyd, Finn, Lynch, Milner, Wheeldon, Holmes, Hauraki, Massey. Substitutes: Boyle, Mariano, Ellis, Fleming.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).