Batley Bulldogs 18 Featherstone Rovers 24: Batley left stunned as Saxton snatches Rovers win

It was evident from the frantic and effective tackling that both sides were fired up.

The game had actually gone 32 minutes before the stalemate was broken when Rovers substitute John Grayshon was put over by organiser Liam Finn who added the conversion.

But Batley drew level on the stroke of half-time when a long penalty kick from Paul Handforth was quickly turned into an attacking move by prop Adam Robinson and quick-witted George Flanagan dived over from the play-the-ball to level the scores.

The Bulldogs went into the lead early in the second half thanks to another burst by Robinson who smashed his way over the line, but Rovers came back yet again with two more tries from Kirk Netherton and another from Andy Kain, both goaled by Finn.

Never-say-die Bulldogs, however, levelled the scores once again as Dave Manning dived over.

The game rested dramatically on a knife-edge when Finn missed two simple penalty goal attempts in the closing minutes.

But Featherstone got the points just four minutes from time when some clever artistry and switching of the ball provided the gap for determined winger Saxton to go over for the decisive try.

Batley Bulldogs: Preece; Reittie, Walton, Maun, Campbell; Toohey, Handforth; Smith, Lythe, Potter, Manning, Bretherton, Lindsay. Substitutes: Flanagan, Robinson, Hesketh, Toothill.

Featherstone: Hardman; Cockayne, Seaton, Hepworth, Saxton; Kain, Finn; Tonks, Kaye, Dickens, Divorty, Spears, Dale. Substitutes: Bostock, Netherton, Gledhill, Grayshon.

Referee: T Roby (Leyland).