Batley Bulldogs 62 Swinton Lions 6: Powerful pack leads the way as Bulldogs secure sweet revenge

Using the dominance of the newly-shaped Batley pack featuring power-packed players such as Keegan Hirst, Mark Applegarth and the Walmsley brothers the scheming Batley half-backs Ben Black and Gareth Moore found themselves with lots of space to exert their brilliance.

Applegarth powered over after nine minutes and although Swinton hit back with a try from wingman Kevin Penny five minutes later, it was all Batley after that.

Black plagued the Lions as he sent Gareth Potts over for his try and eight minutes later lively hooker Paul Mennell provided the opening for Alex Walmsley to power over. Black and substitute Matty Wildie completely befuddled the visitors’ defence with an interpassing stint which saw Wildie touch down and scrum-half Gareth Moore complete the half with a try of his own, but narrowly missing the conversion.

Moore was denied what looked like a good try shortly after the re-start but within minutes Black and Alex Walmsley combined to send the scrum-half between the sticks. This time he added the conversion, one of nine from 11 attempts during the match.

Minutes later, Black again proved elusive as he sent debut forward Liam Walmsley over the line and the jubilation continued as winger Alex Brown snapped up a loose ball 70 metres out and outpaced a gaggle of Swinton defenders to get to the line.

Mark Applegarth got his second try in the dying minutes and as the Lions virtually melted prop Byron Smith scored to mark the end of his powerful stint, while the final cheer was reserved for Black’s long pass which saw full-back Johnny Campbell cross in the corner in the final minute.

Batley Bulldogs: Campbell, Potts, Walton, Maun, Brown, Black, Moore, Smith, Mennell, Green, Bretherton, Applegarth, Lindsey. Substitutes: Wilde, Hirst, A. Walmsley, L. Walmsley.

Swinton Lions: R. Hawkyard, Mort, Reay, Armstrong, Penny, M. Ainscough, Watson, Mills, M. Smith, Morrison, Cunniffe, D. Hawkyard, Forster. Replacements: Ashall, Riley, N. Holland, I’Anson.

Referee: Dave Merrick (RFL).