Hunslet Hawks 18 Batley Bulldogs 24: Bulldogs cling on for double over Hunslet as Potts plants late try

Batley Bulldogs withstood Hunslet’s spirited challenge and squeezed to a Championship league double over their neighbours.

With the Premier Sports cameras present, both teams strove to entertain the television audience and, apart from a brawl towards the end of the first half, served up a thrilling contest.

Batley loose forward Mark Applegarth had to be helped from the field as early as the ninth minute, but his side took a 15th-minute lead when Liam Hood’s pass was intercepted by right winger Johnny Campbell and from subsequent play, left winger Greg Johnson ran round to the posts, Tom Hemingway adding the goal.

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Hunslet drew level when giant prop Richard Moore managed to offload the ball for Tommy Haughey to barge over, close enough for Luke Helliwell to tag on the conversion. However, the Bulldogs were back in front on the half-hour mark, Liam Walmsley gathering Gareth Moore’s shewd kick to the line and Hemingway converting.

A high tackle on Alex Rowe enabled Hemingway to increase the lead with a penalty in front of the posts, but James Houston’s converted try just before the break reduced Hunslet’s deficit to 
14-12.

With half-backs Moore and Hemingway pulling the strings, Batley began to look the more potent force and centre Ayden Faal took Moore’s pass before storming through several tackles for the Bulldogs’ third try, Hemingway landing his fourth goal from as many attempts.

Houston’s second try, converted by Helliwell, gave the Hawks hope but Jimmy Watson’s late mistake let Gareth Potts in for Batley’s fourth try.

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Hunslet Hawks: J Watson; Mapals, Keinhorst, Welham, Pryce; Coyle, Helliwell; R Moore, Hood, Haley, Houston, Haughey, March. Substitues: Haigh, Yates, Menzies, S Watson

Batley Bulldogs: Potts; Campbell, Bretherton, Faal, Johnson; Hemingway, G Moore; Smith, Mennell, Johnson, Davies, Walmsley, Applegarth. Substitutes: Hirst, Rowe, Leary, Maun.

Referee: J Leahy (RFL).