Batley Bulldogs 18 Huddersfield 28: Manning and Batley see red to the relief of troubled Giants

Batley’s Dane Manning saw red on 67 minutes for a high tackle on Huddersfield’s Larne Patrick.

The decision by referee Robert Hicks seemed harsh as it only looked like a sin-bin offence.

Batley’s players were outraged by the decision, with Paul Handforth going close to being sin-binned himself for protesting.

It proved to be the game’s pivotal moment as Batley had outplayed Huddersfield until then.

Batley, who have not won a Challenge Cup tie against Huddersfield in 100 years, came close to pulling off an upset despite facing a strong Giants side.

A converted Kevin Brown solo try put Huddersfield 6-0 up early on but two touchdowns in as many minutes turned the game on its head.

First, Manning dived over from Handforth’s defence-splitting pass on 23 minutes, and then Jason Walton finished off a flowing move involving Ian Preece and Paul Mennell to put Batley 10-6 in front following a Handforth conversion. It was nothing less than Batley deserved.

Kris Lyth and David Tootill were both held up on the Giants try line as Batley sought to increase their lead with a series of flowing moves.

Huddersfield, who were almost at full strength, drew level against the run of play on 33 minutes when Cudjoe put in Lee Gilmour for a touchdown to tie the scores at 10-10 at the break.

Former Giants winger Alex Brown put Batley back in front from a Handforth kick through on 51 minutes, with Handforth converting and then adding a penalty.

But then Manning was sent off and Huddersfield roared back to win the contest through tries from Danny Brough, Joe Wardle and Hodgson. Cudjoe added gloss to the victory in stoppage time with a solo effort, with Brough completing the scoring with a conversion.

Batley: Preece, Rettie, Walton, Maun, Brown, Handforth, Mennell, Smith, Lythe, Potter, Manning, Bretherton, Lindsey. Substitutes: Flanagan, Buttery, Robinson, Tootill.

Huddersfield: Cudjoe, Lawrence, Wardle, Gilmour, Hodgson, Brown, Brough, Patrick, Lunt, Griffin, Cording, Kirmond, O’Donnell. Replacements: Wood, Crabtree, Molloy, Fairbank.

Referee: R Hicks (RFL).