Batley 16 Workington 18: Late heartache for free-falling Batley

Workington took the lead when Callum Phillips got the ball away to Jarrod Stack, who brilliantly stepped past two defenders and forced his way to the line.

But the Bulldogs hit back as Ben Black stabbed a ball through which hit the post and bounced back to the former Halifax halfback for the score.

And they then quickly took the lead when Black put in a chip kick that Miles Greenwood latched on to before touching down.

A penalty 40 metres out and then another for back chat gave Tom Hemingway the chance to add another two, which he duly booted to put the home side 14-6 up at the break.

It was Town who once again opened the scoring in the second half, with Stack playing in Andy Morris out-wide.

Stack was quickly at it again, as he crashed over for his second, Connor’s kick failing to go between the posts, which meant it stayed 14 apiece.

Batley then edged back in front after two penalties on the bounce saw Hemingway slot over another two.

But Workington stole all three points with Bulldogs probing for the killer blow. Black’s pass 10 metres from the line was intercepted by Phillips, who played in Connor for the try which broke home supporters’ hearts.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood; Campbell, Walton, Maun, Johnson; Black, Hemingway; Rowe, Mennell, Johnson, Applegarth, Davies, Lindsay. Substitutes: Flanagan, Hirst, Mullally, Walmsley.

Workington Town: Carter; Miller, Mossop, Connor, Flynn; Connor, Lupton; Phillips, Mattinson, Coward, Phillips, Stack, Olstrum. Substitutes: Morris, Acton, Thackray, Shackley.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton