Siddal 2 Batley Bulldogs 34: Siddal pride retained in defeat to Bulldogs

Siddal, victors over Doncaster in round three, were only finally distanced in the final quarter as the Bulldogs' class finally told.

The amateurs enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, surviving an uncertain opening that saw Sean Hesketh lose the ball close to the line.

Batley finally made the breakthrough, Hoyle's cover tackle denying Johnny Campbell only for Tommy Gallagher to crash over from Paul Handforth's pass on the next play.

Handforth converted for a 6-0 lead, although Siddal went within inches of levelling almost immediately when Ben Kendall was hauled down.

Batley hooker Kris Lythe was sin binned for a grapple tackle, Siddal's Gareth Blackburn putting the Conference side on the scoreboard with a penalty.

Batley eased the pressure when Alex Brown surged clear and raced 60 metres to score under the posts, Handforth converting.

Batley held their 12-2 lead until the break, by which time Siddal had been temporarily reduced to 12 men too, Kendall being penalised for holding down.

Siddal had a try from Luke Simeunovich ruled out for offside, but Batley made the game safe when Mark Barlow claimed Gareth Moore's cross kick.

Tries from Moore, Handforth and Jason Walton gave the scoreline a rather flattering gloss.

Siddal: Attwood; Blackburn, Marsh, Bowman, Caley; Garrod, Brook; L. Simeunovich, Hoyle, Garnett, J. Simeunovich, Smith, Gudor. Substitutes: Proctor, Boothroyd, Leek, Kendall

Batley: Campbell; Barlow, Buttery, Walton, Brown; Toohey, Handforth; Smith, Lythe, Hesketh, Potter, T. Gallagher, J. Gallagher. Substitutes: Lindsay, Martin, Tootill, Moore

Referee: D Merrick (Castleford)