Bulldogs take the spoils on derby day up at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.
On a warm Friday evening at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium it was time again for another Heavy Woollen Derby clash between Batley and Dewsbury. Batley have started their season reasonably well carrying over their form from last year, whilst the Rams were hoping that the old cliché of ‘form going out of the window for a derby’ would ring true.
The game started off evenly balanced with the Rams going down the slope in the first half and the Rams registered the first score of the game when Matty Beharrell kicked a penalty goal after a penalty was awarded to the Rams in front of the sticks. Rams winger Ben Blackmore then got his first try for the club shortly after following a lovely step to glide by two Batley defenders.
Batley answered straight back though, Buchanan scoring after a kick to the corner by Gilmore, and after Gilmore added the extras the game was level. Another penalty goal by Beharrell in the 26th minute gave Dewsbury a two-point lead.
Batley thought they’d scored again through Manning but some excellent goal line defence by Ollie Greensmith made sure the ball wasn’t touched down. However, shortly after Batley did score and it was Buchanan again who crossed following a grubber through by Gilmore who once again converted.
But in a back and forth first-half, it was the Rams who went in at half-time ahead, a cross-field kick by Paul Sykes was tapped back by Keenen Tomlinson to Greensmith who sent Lewis Carr diving over in the corner. The Rams took this positive play into the second half Carr going over in the corner once again for his second of the evening, giving the Rams an eight-point advantage.
Things were to change shortly after though, Paul Sykes was sent to the sin-bin for a high shot and Batley took full advantage scoring first through Johnson and then through ex-Ram Lucas Walshaw. By this time Batley had their tails up and attacking down the slope, ran in another two converted tries through Ward and Campbell towards the end of the game to give the home side a sixteen point victory.
Batley Bulldogs (36): Hooley, Johnson, Senior, Buchanan, Campbell, White, Gilmore, Gledhill, Kaye, Everett, Manning, Walshaw, Blake.
Interchanges: Leak, Ward, Brown, Meadows
Tries: Buchanan (15’, 33’), Johnson (55’), Walshaw (58’), Ward (62’), Campbell (71’)
Conversions: Gilmore (6/6)
Dewsbury Rams (20): Dixon, Blackmore, Ryder, Greensmith, Carr, Sykes, Beharrell, Stevens, Butterworth, Beckett, Trout, Tomlinson, Knowles
Interchanges: Speakman, Kidd, Schofield, Magrin
Tries: Blackmore (12’), Carr (38’, 45)
Conversions: Beharrell (1/3)
Penalty Goals: Beharrell (3/3)
Yellow Card: Sykes (53’)
Our next game sees us return to the Tetley’s Stadium on Sunday 24th April for a huge clash against Workington Town.
