Leak opens up to earn first win for Bulldogs

Following a thrashing by Leigh the previous week, John Kear’s men started the game looking low on confidence, but an inspired second-half showing was enough to claim the points.

Workington were by the far the better side in the first half, and they took a deserved lead when Jason Mossop cut straight through the Batley defence.

They made it 10-0 just after half an hour as a chip over the top from Peter Lupton – who was in joint-charge of Town following Gary Charlton’s resignation – was touched down by Brett Carter.

With four minutes of the first half remaining Batley finally got themselves on the scoreboard as Vinny Finigan went over in the corner following a break from Alistair Leak. Lee Paterson landed an excellent touchline conversion to send the Bulldogs into the break 10-6 behind.

Batley took the lead for the first time five minutes after the break when Paterson touched down Anthony Nicholson’s grubber, only for Workington to hit back immediately through Kayle Connor.

But going behind again inspired Batley and they raised their game in the final half-hour.

Firstly, Leak got on the end of Scott Leatherbarrow’s kick to regain the lead, and Byron Smith then twisted his way over to make it 24-16.

Leatherbarrow was the provider again on 66 minutes, intelligently kicking for Alex Bretherton to score, before Adam Gledhill rounded off proceedings after being put through by the impressive Leak.

Batley Bulldogs: Greenwood, Blackmore, Bretherton, Paterson, Finigan, Leek, Leatherbarrow, Smith, Black, Gledhill, Davies, Scott, Applegarth. Substitutes: Nicholson, Brennan, Rowe, Chandler.

Workington: Tierney, Murphy, Connor, Mossop, Carter, Lupton, C. Phillips, Coward, Mattinson, Rowlandson, B. Phillips, Stack, Olstrum. Subsitutes: Shackley, Lever, Forber, Mcavoy.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).

Ryan Brierley completed back-to-back hat-tricks to start the season as Leigh thrashed Barrow 52-8.