Fozard grabs nine-minute hat-trick
Matt Fozard scored a nine-minute hat-trick as Batley Bulldogs overcame a spirited Normanton Knights side at Wakefield’s Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
With most of the 851-strong crowd behind them, Normanton began well but tries from Tom Thackray, Wayne Reittie and Brad Day made it 16-0 to Batley.
However, the biggest cheer of the day came when Knights full-back Jonathan Hodgson touched down. Adrian Mulachy added the extras, but that would be the last time the amateur side would trouble the scoreboard as Batley clicked through the gears with tries from Cain Southernwood, Anthony Nicholson (2), Tom Lilycrop, Fozard (3) and Day.
Three tries came in the final eight minutes, with Johnny Campbell scoring twice – including a fine individual effort – either side of a try from Keegan Hirst.