Hunslet Hawks 14 Batley Bulldogs 26: Hawks fail to hold out as Batley win ‘80 minute arm-wrestle’

The home team led by eight points in the first half, but lost their way after the interval as the visitors went up a gear to win.

Batley took the lead after 18 minutes when Scott Leatherbarrow and Cain Southernwood combined to supply full-back James Craven and he dummied over.

Hunslet replied almost immediately through Jimmy Watson, who touched down Andy Kain’s kick and the home team moved further ahead on 27 minutes, Brad Brennan barging through against his former club.

Shaun Squires responded for Batley with his fifth try in two games, getting above the defence to gather Southernwood’s kick, but Simon Brown landed a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time – to add to his two conversions – giving Hunslet a 14-8 advantage.

Batley were level within four minutes through Anthony Nicholson’s close-range try, improved by Leatherbarrow.

Alex Rowe was held up over the Hunslet line, but on the next play Shaun Ainscough went in from Leatherbarrow’s kick, the same player adding the extras and then opening a two-score gap through a penalty.

Batley sealed it with Wayne Reittie’s close-range try.

Batley coach John Kear said: “I was very happy with the whole approach of the team.

“The wind and the rain made it a bit of a heavy slog, but credit to the players. We realised it was going to be 80-minute arm-wrestle and that’s what it was.”

Hunslet coach Barry Eaton reflected: “We let some things affect us and get under our skin and we lost focus and composure, but we competed.”

Hunslet Hawks: Watson, Barnett, Briscoe, Maun, Finigan, Kain, Brown, Houston, Lee, Haley, Lyons, Casey, Mackay. Substitutes: Flanagan, Broughton, Brennan, Mulhern.

Batley Bulldogs: Craven, Reittie, Ainscough, Squires, Campbell, Southernwood, Leatherbarrow, Rowe, Blake, Lillycrop, Bretherton, Scott, Chandler. Substitutes: Nicholson, Gledhill, Brown, Mitchell.

Referee: T Crashley.