Batley Bulldogs 34 Toulouse Olympique 12: Campbell caps off fine Bulldogs display with late interception try

And they might well have added five more tries too, but two fine efforts were overruled for obstruction and offside and three other chances saw Batley players cross the line but be unable to touch down.

Half backs Ben Black and Gareth Moore combined to guide the Bulldogs to a healthy 24-0 half-time score.

Moore had opened the scoring in fine style after wrestling the ball from a French player’s grasp and then racing 50 metres to touch down.

Loose forward Kris Lythe quickly followed him over the line thanks to a smart pass from hooker Paul Mennell and wingman Johnny Campbell took a crossfield kick from Black to send centre Jason Walton over unopposed.

Towering second rower Alex Walmsley brought up the 24-0 half-time score as he smartly snapped up a deflected pass to surge over for a try on his home debut.

Lively Toulouse did, however, cause a scare as they used the wind and Mount Pleasant slope to pile on the pressure in the second half and hit back with two cracking tries from highly-elusive full back Nathan Ross and speedy wingman Ryan Houston.

But they were matched by a surging try from Batley full-back Ian Preece and a sensational score from winger Campbell.

He perfectly timed an interception near his own line to prevent another French score but then raced the full length of the field to score with absolute ease and snuff out any French thoughts of a successful comeback.

Batley: Preece; Campbell, Walton, Maun, Brown; Black Moore; Smith, Mennell, Potter, Bretherton, Walker, Lythe. Substitutes: Lindsay, Walmsley, Applegarth, Toohey.

Toulouse: Ross; Houston, Coutourier, Reveillon, Meurin; Ford, Delgal; Gonzalez-Trique, Gigord, Del Poux, Saintignan, Williams, Planas. Substitutes: Djenai, Canton, Moliner, Bathau.

Referee: G Dolan.