Batley Bulldogs 18 Halifax 18: Hemingway pens exciting final line to deny Halifax away victory

It had looked like defeat for Batley when two former Bulldogs, Tony Handforth and Adam Robinson, pushed Halifax well into the lead in the final quarter.

Handforth had sold a dummy to go over in the corner in the 61st minute and Adam Robinson released a superb pass for centre Ben Heaton to cross the line and open up an 18-8 lead for Halifax with only eight minutes remaining.

However, an 80m breakaway move instigated by Batley stand-off Ben Black and turned into points by winger Gareth Potts gave Batley fresh hope.

This appeared to be dashed almost immediately when Hemingway was unable to add the conversion and Halifax held an 18-12 lead.

But minutes later tremendous pressure by the Batley pack including Keegan Hirst, John Davies and George Flanagan prepared the ground for a long pass to Johnny Campbell to sear over in the corner and touch down.

Hemmingway succeeded in landing the difficult touchline conversion to level the scores and the final hooter sounded.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood; Potts, Walton, Bretherton, Campbell; Black, Hemingway; Smith, Mennell, Rowe, Applegarth, Davies, Lindsay. Substitutes: Maun, Hurst, Flanagan, Fleming.

Halifax: Fieldhouse; Worrincy, Tyrer, Heaton, Sheriffe; Handforth, Murrell; Ambler, Ashall, Tonks, Manning, Divorty, Bracek. Substitutes: Thackeray, Robinson, Barlow, Casey.

Referee: George Stokes.