Batley 54 Barrow 4: Moore leads impressive Batley to Barrow win

Their immense support play saw them 18 points up after only 13 minutes but although Barrow managed to thwart several near scores, the Bulldogs rallied just before half time to score another try and two goals to create a 26-4 half-time lead.

But playing up the Mount Pleasant slope in the second half they simply blew the visitors away and their only regret, or so it seemed, was that they couldn’t get the man-of-the-day – captain Danny Maun who was making his 250th appearance for the club – on the scoresheet.

He had been given a guard of honour when he arrived onfield and in the second half twice went within inches of scoring. The first time his leg was twisted into touch as he attempted to touch down and a second break was stopped inches short by a posse of players.

But the Raiders could not match the all-round understanding which saw Batley forwards, half backs and three quarters race through the tiring Barrow defence to open up a half century of points.

In the forefront was two-try scrum-half Gareth Moore who triggered numerous attacks along with full-back Miles Greenwood who joined in attacks in impressive fashion to either open up the way for others to score or collect two cracking tries of his own.

Props Alex Rowe and Anthony Mullally were a constant threat, John Davies and Carnegie student forward Alistair Leak were dynamite and each scored tries while stand-off Tom Hemingway boosted his goal haul by landing nine goals from 10 attempts.

Afterwards Batley coach John Kear said the team could not be faulted, they had worked for each other in fine fashion and executed everything brilliantly.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood; Potts, Walton, Maun, Campbell; Hemingway, Moore; Rowe, Flanagan, Mullally, Bretherton, Davies, Lindsay. Substitutes: Leak, Hirst, Faal, Leary.

Barrow Raiders: Hellewell; Low, McGilvray, Wiper, Clay; Casey, Campbell; Spencer, Mossop, Butler, Harrison, Haggerty, Jones. Substitutes: Nicholson, Brenna, Dawson, Whitehead.

Referee: T Craseley (Wakefield).