Batley to enjoy 'free hit' against Featherstone Rovers

Craig Lingard feels the pressure is off his Batley Bulldogs side when they host promotion-chasing Featherstone Rovers this weekend.
HEAD COACH: Craig Lingard. Picture: Ed Sykes\SWpix.com.HEAD COACH: Craig Lingard. Picture: Ed Sykes\SWpix.com.
HEAD COACH: Craig Lingard. Picture: Ed Sykes\SWpix.com.

Batley head into the West Yorkshire derby on Sunday on the back of three-straight wins, putting themselves in pole position to secure a Championship play-off place.

Rovers had their 13-game winning streak in the league ended by Toulouse Olympique last weekend and Lingard is expecting a response from the 1895 Cup winners on Sunday.

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The sides have met three times this season - once in pre-season, once in the league and one further time in the Challenge Cup - with Featherstone winning all three contests.

“If we had got beat last weekend, it puts more pressure on the Featherstone game,” said Lingard.

“They will be expected to get a victory this week.

“It is a free-hit for us but we are full of confidence, we are looking up rather than looking down.

“They will want a reaction from their performance against Toulouse. Hopefully we can catch them on an off day and we will be on form.

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“I can’t imagine a team like Featherstone will have two weeks on the bounce where they perform poorly. We are expecting a reaction.

“We have won our last three games and we are full of confidence and when you are full of confidence, anything can happen.”