Batley Bulldogs 50 York City Knights 0: Dent’s injury subdues both York and Batley

BATLEY Bulldogs posted another half-century score which could well boost their positioning in the play-offs.

They rattled up five cracking tries in the first half and looked set to more than double that score in the second when they scooted over for three superb touchdowns in the opening eight minutes.

But as they attempted to cross yet again York’s full-back Paul Dent sustained a neck injury which resulted in the game being suspended for more than 12 minutes while he was fitted with a headguard and stretchered off to hospital.

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The spirit of the game udnerstandbly evaporated, and Batley’s attack could only conjure up one more touchdown for Jason Walton to which Gareth Moore added his seventh goal.

It was in complete contrast to the opening half when Bulldog full-back Johnny Campbell roared up the wing to take a chip from Gareth Moore and touch down after just five minutes.

Gareth Potts then opened the way for Ben Black to score, and he triggered the next scoring move with a superb pass to Danny Maun who outwitted two defenders on his way to the line.

Luck even went against York when Batley winger Gott raced away for an 80m touchdown. The half was completed with a bullocking run from Keegan Hirst which set up Matty Wildie.

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Superb inter-passing, kicking and amazing speed saw Batley start the second half with two tries from winger Alex Brown and another from hard-working forward Ash Lindsay within the first eight minutes.

But then came the injury to Dent and the match completely finished as a competitive contest.

Batley Bulldogs: Campbell; Potts, Walton, Maun, Brown; Black, Moore; Smith, Mennell, Scott, Bretherton, Applegarth, Lindsay. Substitutes: Wildie, Hirst, A Walmsley, L Walmsley.

York City Knights: Dent; Price, Poutney, Garside, Elliott; Thurman, Craig; Sullivan, Brining, Aldous, Smith, Davies, Freer. Substitutes: Carter, Sutton, Ellis, Esposito.

Referee: Mathew Thomason (Warrington).