Batley 42 Keighley 10: Cougars suffer as Greenwood’s hat-trick heads Bulldogs’ romp

Superb support play by full-back Miles Greenwood saw him grab a hat-trick of tries as Batley tore Keighley apart in this opening encounter.

The Bulldogs showed great anticipation between backs and forwards in this seven-try thrashing yet it was the 15 minutes after the break which pleased Batley coach John Kear best of all.

For during that time Batley, playing up the Mount Pleasant slope, were placed under great pressure but great spotting and tackling prevented the Cougars from notching up a point.

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“The defensive work was top class and completely deflated the Cougars,” said Kear.

The Bulldogs had started the game in style as a chip ahead by Ben Black was snapped up by Greenwood to score the first touchdown after six minutes.

Six minutes later Black instigated a great interpassing move with Mark Applegarth before touching down and two minutes later the stand-off inspired a storming downhill move by prop Alex Rowe which opened the way for Greenwood to score his second try.

The Cougars took advantage of a Batley mistake to send Danny Lawton over in the corner but Batley were soon showing their style as Gareth Potts went on an evasive run to touchdown and bring up the a 22-4 interval score.

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The visitors had struggled to make progress upfield during the first half but not Batley. A storming 50-metre run by Alex Walmsley opened the way for Greenwood to accept and race away for his third touchdown, which Tom Hemingway converted, and then added a penalty goal minutes later.

Eventually the Cougars found a chink when a long pass from Danny Jones allowed Paul White to scoot over in the corner for a try converted superbly from the touchline by Scott Leatherbarrow.

But within minutes the roaming of speedy Batley wingman Greg Johnson opened up the visitors’ defence and a Black chip ahead provided a try for Jason Walton.

Five minutes later the elusive Johnson triggered another superb move and, fittingly, resulted in him getting a touchdown after two chips ahead.

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Batley: Greenwood; Potts, Walton, Faal, Johnson; Black, Hemingway; Smith, Mennell, Rowe, Davies, Applegarth, Lindsay. Substitutes: Bretherton, Flanagan, Hirst, Walmsley.

Keighley: Jesse Sheriffe; White, Lawton, Williams, Barnett; Jones, Leatherbarrow; Hesketh, Feather, Law, Chandler, Sagar, Shepherd. Substitutes: March, Jode Sheriffe, Lynam, Shickler.

Referee: G Hewer (RFL).

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