Batley Bulldogs 46 Swinton 14: Batley bounce back to avoid Lions defeat

Batley overcame the early setback of conceding a third-minute try to centre Cain Rothwell by scoring 20 points in the space of 12 minutes.

Wayne Reittie leapt to gather a crossfield kick to score wide out, while Brad Day, Cain Southernwood and Shaun Ainscough also crossed.

Southernwood tagged on two conversions as Batley led 20-4 before Swinton’s Stuart Littler crossed wide on the right.

With Batley having the advantage of the Mount Pleasant slope they ran in a further five tries to complete the win.

Jordan Morgan latched onto a neat kick to the in-goal area by Shaun Squires to score on his Batley debut and Southernwood converted. Darren Hawkyard was sin-binned for the Lions and Ainscough intercepted a pass and raced 45 metres to the line as Batley led 32-8.

Tom Thackeray showed strength to barge his way over for Batley’s seventh try as the Bulldogs took a grip on the game.

Shaun Robinson replied with a try wide on the right for Swinton, with Chris Atkin converting.

But Batley finished strongly and Thackeray grabbed his second try before Alistair Leak crossed at the side of the posts having gathered Southernwood’s neat offload. Southernwood converted to ensure Batley are in the hat for tonight’s draw.

Batley Bulldogs: Morgan; Reittie, Squires, Hey, Ainscough; Southernwood, Leak; Hirst, Blake, Hesketh, Scott, Day, Chandler. Substitutes: Fozard, Gledhill, Brown, Thackeray.

Swington Lions: R Hawkyard; Robinson, Littler, Rothwell, Hurst; Atkin, Rowland; M Morrison, Ackers, J Morrison, Beachum, Gardner, Lever. Substitutes: D Hawkyard, Gallagher, Barlow, Lloys.

Referee: C Kendall (RFL).