Batley Bulldogs narrowly beaten by in-form Oldham
Batley Bulldogs were narrowly beaten by in-form Oldham on Friday evening despite a spirited performance at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.
In a game which swung one way, then the other, the Bulldogs were ultimately undone by eight points scored by Morgan Smith in the final 20 minutes, as the Roughyeds secured a 20-14 victory.
The fixture came barely five full days after James Ford’s men were swatted aside by Championship leaders London Broncos. But the Bulldogs knew they were going to be in for another tough 80 minutes with Oldham searching for their 13 straight league win.
Batley, however, weren’t going to start without a fight and looked on course to be the first team since Widnes Vikings in February to inflict a defeat on the Roughyeds.
Ben Reynolds, who was sadly missed during the heavy Broncos loss, was back for the Bulldogs and he delivered a lovely pass for Robbie Butterworth to power over to break the deadlock, although Reynolds couldn’t add any extras.
The Bulldogs had the early momentum and they could have had another but Josh Woods was held up just before the line.
But the home side didn’t have to wait long for their lead to be extended as Josh Cartwright, who joined on an initial one-week loan deal before kick-off, crossed after his new team-mates had worked it well to the left.
Reynolds missed the conversion again as Batley held an 8-0 lead, which was totally wiped out by two converted tries in the space of nine minutes before the half-time hooter.
Adam Milner went over on 26 minutes after another six again before former Wakefield Trinity captain Matty Ashurst spun over after a great move to make it 12-8.
Batley, just like they did in the first half, started the second 40 the brighter side by earning a penalty and Jack Hudson causing problems. And their pressure was rewarded when Reynolds pounced on a high kick from Woods to regain the lead, 14-12, thanks to Woods converting his own try.
But then it was Oldham’s turn to hit back through Smith who scored under the posts before he added the extras. He was then held up on the line before he knocked over a penalty with five minutes to go to make it 20-14, as the visitors completed the league double over the Bulldogs for the first time in 25 years.
Batley: Butterworth, Burton, Ellis, Hudson, Cartwright, Reynolds, Woods, Kirk, Leak, McMillan, Manning, Stead, Stevens
Interchanges: Parsons, Flynn, Walshaw, Hodgson