Doncaster v Batley Bulldogs preview: James Ford expecting ‘really exciting’ climax to Championship season
Batley Bulldogs’ head coach James Ford has revealed he is expecting a “really exciting” climax to the Championship season as he prepares his troops for a clash with play-off-chasing rivals Doncaster.
Doncaster, in sixth, welcome the Bulldogs, in ninth, to the Club Doncaster Sports Village this Friday, July 24 (kick off 7.30pm), for their first home game since May 20.
Since then, they have won four of five consecutive away games - their only defeat coming at the hands of leaders London Broncos.
Batley, meanwhile, have lost their past four matches but are still on course to finish in the top ten and secure their place in the end of season play-offs.
But Ford has admitted he hasn’t looked at the current league standings.
He said: “It is close and that is by design but I probably won’t look properly until the last couple of games.
“The RFL have picked the fixtures to try and make it as equal as possible. They have created the fixture list to make it a really exciting end to the season.
“And it will be.”
Ford is also hoping for an improved defensive display following on from their 34-30 defeat at home to Midlands Hurricanes.
He said: “Doncaster are a very big powerful team. They have got a lot of experience and on their day they are probably capable of challenging London.
“We will need to be better defensively than we were against Midlands if we are going to go there and get the points.
“And we will go there and attack the game and try to come away with the points, that is for sure.”