Batley Bulldogs 12 Sheffield Eagles 19: Championship snub spurred on Sheffield to Grand Final glory

AROUND the same time as the gates on their Don Valley Stadium home shut for good last night, resilient Sheffield Eagles completed a fitting fightback to overcome Batley Bulldogs and become the first side to win consecutive Championship Grand Finals.
Sheffield Eagles players celebrate after winning the finalSheffield Eagles players celebrate after winning the final
Sheffield Eagles players celebrate after winning the final

The South Yorkshire side still do not know where they will play next year, leading victorious coach Mark Aston to joke they have no cabinet to even showcase the silverware earned from this enthralling game.

For now, though, they will simply enjoy the moment after recovering from a nightmare first period where they trailed 12-0 against an inspired Batley side playing in their first such occasion.

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After losing the Northern Rail Cup final and then letting the League Leaders’ Shield slip, subdued Sheffield looked in danger of suffering treble heartache.

Sheffield Eagles players celebrate after winning the finalSheffield Eagles players celebrate after winning the final
Sheffield Eagles players celebrate after winning the final

However, Batley – who hoped to become the first side from outside the top four to win the title – could not maintain those high standards in the second period and, as their discipline waned and Sheffield rediscovered all their command of old, it was Aston’s men who turned it around with four tries in a blistering 15-minute spell.

“That’s 38 games we’ve played this year and the only two we’ve missed are the Challenge Cup semi and final,” said Aston.

“It still baffles me why Sheffield Eagles did not get Championship club of the year.

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“That served as a bit of motivation but there had to be a few choice words at half-time.

“It could have been a lot worse than 12-0 and Batley were great.

“But Dom Brambani’s 40/20 turned the game; we always knew we could score points.

“It’s sad that Don Valley has closed the night we go back-to-back and make history but another chapter will open for us and I’m real proud of these boys.”

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Man of the match Brambani did, indeed, do much of the damage as his pinpoint kicking caused John Kear’s side all sorts of problems.

That 40/20 set up position for the first try of their comeback in the 55th minute, when Menzie Yere created space for winger Scott Turner to dive over.

Yere quickly scored himself, the Papua New Guinea centre capitalising on Johnny Campbell’s error to force his way in for, incredibly, his 46th try of the year.

But Brambani could not convert either to leave them trailing 12-8 and when Batley’s Ben Black made a rare break down the touchline it seemed their comeback would be halted.

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However, Sheffield captain Mitch Stringer – the prop who won Championship Player of the Year on Thursday night – got across to make a brilliant tap-tackle and his side survived.

Instead, Brambani delivered a perfect crossfield kick for Turner to collect his second only to miss a third successive conversion to leave it level.

It mattered little, though, as Stringer’s delightful ball opened up space for Quentin Laulu-Togagae to dart through the middle and round Miles Greenwood in the 70th minute, Brambani finally adding the extras and Pat Turner’s drop-goal ensuring victory.

It was harsh on Batley, who had finished fifth but enjoyed a glorious run in the play-offs, winning with golden points both here at Leigh and at minor premiers Featherstone Rovers.

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They enacted as perfect a first half of rugby as you are ever likely to see.

Their fearsome and relentless defence never allowed Sheffield the chance to get any sort of momentum either down the middle or with their dangerous back three runners who were all cut down quickly on the rare opportunities they got a mere whiff of space.

Batley’s forceful pack were well-organised and disciplined while they got terrific impact from their bench players with Alex Rowe continually driving forward, dragging defenders with him before inevitably offloading.

Keegan Hirst, too, proved a real handful when he entered the fray and Sheffield looked a little bemused at what was coming their way.

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Furthermore, Kear’s side refused to get over-excited and when the chance arrived for points they duly took them.

Four times they opted to go for the points when Sheffield infringed within kicking distance and on three of those occasions Gareth Moore was successful with his attempt.

It meant, after he brilliantly converted Campbell’s lightning finish in the 13th minute when the winger latched onto Jason Walton’s pass and surged 45m down the right touchline, that Batley had forged a 12-0 lead.

But in the second period they missed an excellent chance when Black escaped down the wing but, after last man Laulu-Togagae tied him down, Campbell spilled trying to quickly exploit the ensuing gaps.

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Moments later, Brambani came up with that 40/20 and the game’s momentum turned, Batley going on to suffer a ninth successive loss against these opponents.

“We played 40 minutes of perfect cup final football and then for some reason – whether lack of experience or we couldn’t believe we were on the verge of something so good – we went away from it,” said Kear.

“All the first half we kept them away from our line and all the second we invited them on so at some stage the dam was going to break. I’m proud of the boys, though, and they say you have to lose one to win one so we’ll go again. There’s about seven leaving so we’ll have to rebuild but hopefully we’ll get over the hurt.”

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Taulapapa, Armstrong, Yere, Turner; Walker, Brambani; Battye, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Szostak, Hirst. Substitutes: Davey, Green, Straugheir, Garside.

Batley: Greenwood; Campbell, Walton, Maun, Johnson; Black, Moore; Smith, Mennell, Mullally, Bretherton, Davies, Lindsay. Substitutes: Flanagan, Hirst, Rowe, Walmsley.