Championship: Pat Walker holds his nerve as Batley Bulldogs edge home

Whitehaven took a while to get going and were not really in it during the first half and headed into the interval 16-6 down – despite taking an early 6-0 lead.

But they came roaring back in the second half and a late drop goal gave them a 23-22 lead, but Pat Walker held his never to convert a late penalty and edge Batley home. The Bulldogs’ tries came from Dave Scott, Adam Gledhill and two by Alex Brown while the rest of the points came courtesy of Walker’s boot.

The result leaves Batley second in the table, level on points with leaders Leigh and a point ahead of Bradford.

For their part, Leigh won 
40-24 at Workington.

The Centurions edged a tight first half 14-16 but managed to pull away after the break. Jake Emmitt, Harrison Hansen, Tom Armstrong, Reni Maitua (2), Sam Hopkins and Fuifui Moimoi scored their tries with Martin Ridyard kicking five goals and Ben Reynolds kicking another.

Workington’s points came courtesy of two Chris Murphy tries and a try apiece from Jarrod Sammut, Brett Phillips and Jason Mossop while Sammut also kicked two goals.

A dominant first-half display helped Swinton Lions beat Oldham Roughyeds 28-18.

Swinton led 24-0 at half-time but Oldham roared back into the match with tries from Danny Grimshaw, sub Adam Files and Jon Ford, along with kicks from Lewis Palfrey but the hosts held on. Rhodri Lloyd, two tries from Connor Dwyer, Chris Atkin and replacement Corbyn Kilday crossed over for the Lions and Atkin made four kicks.