Moore drives Batley to victory after Hunslet fightback falls short

Defences held an iron grip in the early stages but when Batley full-back Ian Preece was penalised inside his own half, Hunslet took advantage, Luke Helliwell sending prop Andy Yates plunging over for a try close enough to the posts for Helliwell to add the goal.

Both sides struggled to make sufficient ground with their sets of six despite the promptings of their half-backs, and when Preece fumbled a long kick from Helliwell, the Hawks failed to cash in.

Batley hit back when Preece made amends by running on to Ben Black’s pass and scoring in the corner, Gareth Moore failing with the conversion. The Bulldogs took the lead when Hunslet claimed Moore had been tackled on his back but the scrum-half rolled over to touch down and the try was awarded.

Moore added the goal and with Batley in the ascendancy, he then made a smart break to send Alex Walmsley in for his side’s third try, Moore surprisingly dragging the simple conversion wide. Batley deserved their 14-6 interval lead with some strong-running forward play from Johnny Walker and Walmsley testing Hunslet’s dogged defence.

Moore and Black combined with Jason Walton to create a try in the corner for Gareth Potts at the start of the second half, Moore’s touchline kick sailing over.

Hunslet’s second try followed an interception by Stuart Kain, who was hauled down by Potts only to send David March over the line in subsequent play to make it 10-20. Kain then had a try ruled out for offside as he gathered a kick from March, and Yates collected his second try.

However, Moore’s drop-goal gave Batley a seven-point cushion and there were sin-binnings for Hunslet’s David Tootill and Batley’s Alex Brown for fighting before March scored his second try to give the Bulldogs a scare.

Hunslet Hawks: Hodgson; Brickwood, Davies, Clayton, Kain; Helliwell, R Smith; Yates, Haigh, Henderson, Watson, Oakes, March. Substitutes: McLocklan, Lewis, Tootill, Benjafield.

Batley Bulldogs: Preece; Potts, Walton, Williams, Brown; Black, Moore; B Smith, Mennell, Potter, Bretherton, Walker, Lythe. Substitutes: Palfrey, Walmsley, Applegarth, Lindsay.

Referee: G Hewer (Whitehaven).