Battling Bulldogs edged out at Doncaster for fifth straight defeat

The Bulldogs lost 22-10 but were well in the game ten minutes into the second half after Robbie Butterworth’s try had got them to within six points of their play-off rivals.

However, Doncaster, playing in their first home game since May 20, secured the win, which now puts them just two points behind fifth-placed Barrow Raiders with a game in hand, thanks to a late Edene Gebbie try.

Batley came into the contest on the back of a bye round last weekend, which gave the likes of Butterworth, Josh Woods, Nyle Flynn and Jonah Parsons chance to recover for the trip to the newly-named Club Doncaster Sports Village, although the game came too soon for Lucas Walshaw and Liam Kirk.

And James Ford’s men made the perfect start with Ollie Greensmith - a former Dons player - darting over on the left edge.

It took a while for the home side to get into their stride but once they did, they struck Batley with back-to-back tries.

Tom Holmes’ converted try gave them a 6-4 lead after pouncing on a loose ball before Buretta Faraimo went over in the corner to make it 10-4.

That was stretched to 16-4 at the break thanks to Holmes’ second on the half-hour mark, although the Bulldogs finished the half strongly and went close on two occasions, but were held up on the line.

The next try was pivotal and the visitors claimed it through Butterworth with Ben Reynolds’ conversion keeping Batley within just one full score.

The game was on a knife-edge and Reynolds went close in the 68th minute but was thwarted on the last tackle.

However, the Dons were able to settle any nerves when Gebbie won it with five minutes remaining.