Batley Bulldogs 30 Whitehaven 16: Greenwood’s late try caps fine Batley victory

The visitors broke the deadlock when a swift move between James Newton, Cain Southernwood, Jamie Rooney and Lee Paterson saw James Cameron in at the corner.

But, despite some determined defence, the hosts hit back after halves Tom Hemingway and Ben Black dovetailed to send Jason Walton over.

Whitehaven were fighting tooth and nail to hold the Bulldogs out, but their try-line was crossed again, as Black found Walton on an angled run for his second.

And Batley were in again when Gareth Moore, Black and Walton combined to play in Greg Johnson. But the visitors got themselves back in it when, on the back of a penalty, Lee Doran twisted his way over.

However, it was not long before Bulldogs restored their 14-point lead, as the imposing Mullally shrugged off two defenders to touchdown under the sticks.

But Haven replied when Cain Southerwood’s kick fortuitously bounced off the cross bar into the hands of Rooney who plonked the ball down to get them back in bonus-point territory.

But, in the very last play of the game, Paul Mennell stabbed a ball through, which bounced agonisingly off the slope over Neil Thorman’s head into the hands of Greenwood, who touched down and Hemingway then converted to deny the Cumbrians a bonus point.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood; Johnson, Walton, Faal, Campbell; Black, Hemingway; Smith, Mennel, Mullally, Bretherton, Lindsay, Davies. Substitutes: Moore, Rowe, Hirst, Fairbank

Whitehaven: Thorman; Cameron, Clark, Parker, Calvert; Rooney, Southernwood; Jackson, Newton, Cullnean, Doran, Crellin, Paterson. Substitutes: Martins, Houghton, Sice, Pora.

Referee: D Merrick (RFL).