Walker helps Batley to win on emotional day

It was an emotional day at Mount Pleasant as the two neighbours put aside their rivalries to pay tribute to local MP Jo Cox who was murdered 10 days ago.

Dewsbury started the game superbly and raced into a 10-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes, despite playing up the slope.

A neat short pass sent centre Jason Crookes barging over, before Andy Kain raced through a gap for a try which Paul Sykes converted.

Frankie Mariano looked to have pulled a try back for the Bulldogs but was pulled back for offside, but winger Alex Brown did cross for a try in the corner, with Dominic Brambani converting.

He was also on target two minutes later, when Chris Ulugia barged his way over. Pat Walker missed the chance to put Batley further ahead when he sliced a penalty wide but Batley added a third try via Alex Bretherton.

Walker was unable to convert but Batley led 16-10 at the break.

Dewsbury hit back after the re-start when Josh Guzdek burrowed under a host of bodies for an unconverted try.

Sykes struck the post with a penalty but was on target with a second effort for 16-16, before Walker edged Batley back in front with a 30-metre penalty.

Bulldogs winger Wayne Reittie was sin-binned but Batley dug deep to withstand severe Rams pressure and complete a victory.

Batley Bulldogs: Scott; Reittie, Ulugia, Mariano, A Brown; Southernwood, Brambani; Hirst, Davey, J Brown, Bretherton, Chandler, Gledhill, Substitutes: Rowe, Lillycrop, Walker, Day.

Dewsbury Rams: Guzdek; Morton, walshaw, Crookes, Grant; Sykes, Kain; Groat, Speakman, Trout, Spicer, Hale, Adamson. Substitutes: Conroy, Hepworth, Muranka, Stringer.

Referee: J Smith (RFL).